Limpet mines strike two tankers carrying Indian crew in Strait of Hormuz
Two tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, one by limpet mines and another by projectile fire, but all 29 Indian seafarers on board were unharmed.
A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, MT LOUISE 1, was hit by limpet mines on Oct. 30 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire in its engine room. The vessel was temporarily disabled but the crew extinguished the blaze and continued its voyage. The incident, reported by maritime sources and confirmed by the Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, marks the first successful use of such explosives in the waterway since the conflict began in February.
The day before, a Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier, MT ARZANAH, was struck by a projectile attack. Both ships together were carrying 27 and 2 Indian nationals respectively, and all 29 Indians were reported safe with no injuries.
"On Oct 29, Liberia-flagged VLCC MT ARZANAH, carrying 2 Indian nationals, and on Oct 30, Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT LOUISE 1, carrying 27 Indian seafarers, were targeted in projectile attacks in the Strait of Hormuz," Sonowal posted on X.
British naval agency UKMTO noted the Louise 1 incident occurred about 25 nautical miles north-east of Khasab, Oman, though it did not name the vessel. Maritime security sources identified the ship and confirmed limpet mines were attached by a small craft that then withdrew. No environmental damage was reported.
Maritime risk manager Marisks warned that the ability of small boats to approach moving tankers and attach inexpensive explosives poses a serious security risk in the heavily trafficked strait, where limpet mines have been used intermittently since 2017.