A VLCC owned by Saudi Arabia’s Bahri group reported to be attacked by Yemen's rebel Houthi group. Houthis hit a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea with missiles.
Oil tanker was in international waters when it came under “Houthi-Iranian attack” at around 13:30 local time (1030 GMT).Tanker could be VLCC Abqaiq owned by Saudi Arabia's Bahri group.
A coalition warship conducted a “swift intervention” foiling the attack. Although missile hit the VLCC , but it could cause only superficial damage to the vessel. No Oil spill has been reported from the Tanker. It was hit on the starboard side damaging a ballast tank.
A coalition warship conducted a “swift intervention” foiling the attack. Although missile hit the VLCC , but it could cause only superficial damage to the vessel. No Oil spill has been reported from the Tanker. It was hit on the starboard side damaging a ballast tank.
All crew are safe and vessel is continuing it's voyage escorted by Naval warships.
“As a result of that attack, the tanker was subjected to a slight but ineffective hit and it resumed its naval course northwards, escorted by a coalition warship,” the statement said.
The attack is seen as attempt to hamper commercial shipping and maritime movement in the region which is the key choke point between the Arabian peninsula and Horn of Africa. Any disturbance in this area can largely affect the Crude Oil movement from Saudi Arabia which the world's biggest crude exporter.
This attack has raised the fear in the Crude market as restrictions in commercial shipping can impact the world wide crude oil prices. Also Saudi Arabia's economy can come under pressure if Houthi choose to continue attacks and hamper the maritime movement.
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