THE 159,681-dwt tanker Sabiti, owned by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has been hit by two missiles in the Red Sea 60 miles off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reports London's Tanker Operator.
Iranian state television reported, quoting NIOC that the tanker suffered heavy damage, but the crew was safe.
According to Reuters, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, which operates in the region, said it was aware of media reports about the tanker, but did not have any information.
The near-term effect for ocean shipping is to push already high rates higher. Day rates for very large crude carriers (VLCC), which carry two million barrels of crude each) are rising rapidly toward the US$200,000 per day threshold, reports American Shipper.
Iranian Foreign Ministry said the ship was hit twice, 30 minutes apart, and that other 'destructive moves against Iranian tankers' had been 'carried out' over recent months, referring to an earlier oil spill.
The suezmax Sabiti, which can carry one million barrels of crude oil that was reportedly fully laden when hit. The attack on the Iranian tanker comes less than a month after the September 14 strikes on Saudi Arabia's oil fields, which Saudi Arabia has blamed on Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken opposite sides in the civil war raging in Yemen.
WORLD SHIPPING
Iranian state television reported, quoting NIOC that the tanker suffered heavy damage, but the crew was safe.
According to Reuters, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, which operates in the region, said it was aware of media reports about the tanker, but did not have any information.
The near-term effect for ocean shipping is to push already high rates higher. Day rates for very large crude carriers (VLCC), which carry two million barrels of crude each) are rising rapidly toward the US$200,000 per day threshold, reports American Shipper.
Iranian Foreign Ministry said the ship was hit twice, 30 minutes apart, and that other 'destructive moves against Iranian tankers' had been 'carried out' over recent months, referring to an earlier oil spill.
The suezmax Sabiti, which can carry one million barrels of crude oil that was reportedly fully laden when hit. The attack on the Iranian tanker comes less than a month after the September 14 strikes on Saudi Arabia's oil fields, which Saudi Arabia has blamed on Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken opposite sides in the civil war raging in Yemen.
WORLD SHIPPING