A Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier was hit by “unidentified objects” while sailing in the Gulf, its owner said, the latest attack on commercial shipping since the US-Israel war on Iran began in February.
Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) said its LNG carrier Al Mayeda was struck on Friday evening. None of the crew was injured, there was no environmental impact, and the vessel is “in a safe condition, operational” while the damage is assessed, the company said in a statement.
More than 120 commercial ships have been hit since the war began, according to data from the International Maritime Organization and the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency cited by Al Jazeera. With at least 29 ships hit, October was the worst month of the war, ahead of 20 attacks in March.
Iran, which closed the Strait of Hormuz early in the war, has warned that vessels passing without its permission would face “destruction”. Attacks have increased since the United States reimposed a blockade on Iran’s southern ports in July. No one has claimed responsibility for the strike on Al Mayeda.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Nakilat
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