Tanker Struck by Blast Near Iraqi Port, Suspected Hull Breach Reported

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) – Security in the northern Gulf was thrust into focus on Thursday after an explosion struck a commercial oil tanker anchored near a major Iraqi export terminal, with the vessel's operators reporting a suspected breach of its hull.

The Bahamas-flagged crude carrier Sonangol Namibe was approached by an unidentified small craft in the early hours of March 5 near the Khor al Zubair port, according to a statement from U.S.-based representative company Sonangol Marine Services. Moments after the approach, a loud blast was heard.

"Initial assessments by the crew indicate water loss from a port-side ballast tank, suggesting some form of hull penetration," the company said. "The vessel remains stable, safely afloat, and there is no pollution reported as the tanker was in ballast, carrying no cargo at the time."

The incident underscores the persistent vulnerabilities of maritime traffic in a waterway critical to global energy supplies. The Sonangol Namibe had been under contract with Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO and was en route to load approximately 80,000 metric tons of Iraqi fuel, according to an Iraqi energy official and a shipping agent.

The blast occurred against a backdrop of heightened regional rhetoric. Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck a "U.S. tanker" in the northern Gulf, stating it was set on fire. The connection, if any, between the two reported incidents remains unconfirmed, but it points to the volatile security environment surrounding key oil shipping lanes.

Analyst & Public Reaction:

"This is a calculated escalation in maritime harassment, targeting empty vessels to send a message without causing an environmental catastrophe—this time," said Marcus Thorne, a maritime security analyst at Gulf Risk Advisors. "The intent is clearly to demonstrate capability and disrupt commercial confidence."

"Another day, another 'suspected' attack with no one claiming responsibility. When will the international community hold the perpetrators accountable? This lawlessness cannot be the new normal for seafarers," argued Captain Anya Sharma, a former tanker master and now a vocal shipping safety advocate, her tone sharp with frustration.

"Thankfully, the crew is safe and there's no spill. It could have been far worse," commented David Chen, a Singapore-based commodities trader. "The market will watch closely for any operational delays at Iraqi ports, but the immediate supply impact looks minimal."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Louise Heavens)