Arabian Sea: Two crew killed following an explosion on an Israeli-linked oil tanker close to the island of Masirah, Oman, early July 30 /update 1

Event

Authorities have confirmed that two crew members on board an Israeli-linked oil tanker, Mercer Street, operating near Masirah Island, Oman, were killed following an explosion, early July 30. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has acknowledged the incident; an investigation is underway. The registered commercial operator of the vessel has described the incident as piracy, however, additional detail regarding the incident remains unclear.

Persian Gulf littoral states and their allies could increase naval and aerial surveillance in the days ahead. The incident will likely prompt heightened security measures and could disrupt shipping and maritime transport through the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

Context

A series of high-profile incidents involving vessels and oil tankers have occurred in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in recent years. The most recent maritime incident involved a suspected Iranian attack targeting an Israeli-owned vessel off the coast of Fujairah, UAE. The incident occurred shortly after an alleged Israeli attack against Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. As tensions between Washington and its allies and Tehran persist, further similar incidents remain likely.

Advice

Exercise caution and reconfirm routes with maritime authorities if transiting or shipping freight through the Arabian Sea or Persian Gulf in the coming days.