MUSCAT, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Three oil tankers were struck in separate incidents off the coast of Oman on Tuesday, leaving three crew members missing and six others injured, Oman's Maritime Security Centre (OMSC) has said.
In the first incident, the tanker Stolt Magnesium was struck about 40 nautical miles off South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, outside Omani territorial waters, triggering a fire in the vessel's engine room, OMSC said in a statement.
The vessel's 23-member crew was evacuated by a nearby merchant vessel and all were in good health, it said.
In a second statement, OMSC said the tanker Mombasa B was struck about 8.5 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate, causing the vessel to lose engine power. Its 21-member crew was evacuated by a cooperating vessel, while six sustained injuries of varying severity.
A Royal Navy of Oman vessel was monitoring the situation, it added.
The centre also reported that the tanker Al Bahyah was struck about 9.6 nautical miles off Musandam Governorate. A Royal Navy of Oman vessel was deployed to the scene. Eighteen crew members were evacuated, while search operations continue for three missing crew members.
ADNOC Logistics & Services, the shipping arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, confirmed on Tuesday that two crude oil tankers operated by the company, Al Bahyah and Mombasa B, were struck by projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one seafarer was killed and several others injured.
The developments came as the United States and Iran traded fresh attacks over the control of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the Omani Foreign Ministry called for respecting international law, restoring freedom of navigation, and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategic waterway. ■
