A Panama-flagged crude supertanker, Gem No.2, was struck by an unknown projectile about 13 nautical miles west of the United Arab Emirates on Friday, sparking a fire that was later extinguished.
The vessel, which was fully laden with oil and at anchor off the UAE coast, could not be reached for comment by its operator, Gem No.2 Maritime Corp. Maritime risk group Vanguard said, 'GEM NO.2 was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 13nm west of , UAE, at 1000 (GMT)'.
India’s minister for ports, shipping and waterways confirmed that all 22 Indian seafarers aboard were safe, while the extent of damage remained unclear.
The attack followed an earlier strike on a tanker off Qatar inside the Gulf and came as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they would pursue ships taking routes Tehran considers unauthorised anywhere in the region, not only inside the Strait of Hormuz.
Separate reports noted an unidentified outbound tanker hit on its port side within the Hormuz strait, a fire that was extinguished with the crew safe, and US forces disabling the propulsion of a Panama-flagged bulker in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings under Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports.
Such incidents generally lead to higher war‑risk premiums and closer routing scrutiny for owners, charterers and brokers.
As Editor in Chief of The Maritime, I lead content development, interviews, and digital storytelling across our multimedia maritime platform. With over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry, I create and publish in-depth stories and video features that highlight key players, emerging trends, and operational realities across global shipping. Before launching The Maritime, I worked as a Vessel Operator at Imza Marine A.S., gaining hands-on commercial shipping and voyage operations experience. I also served as Marketing Communications Specialist at Gimas Ship Supply & Services, where I managed corporate communication, digital strategy, and industry outreach for shipowners and maritime clients. I hold a Master’s degree in Maritime Transportation Management from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Marmara University. My work is driven by the belief that the maritime world deserves strong, informed, and accessible media representation. I am committed to sharing the stories of maritime professionals and contributing to the sector’s visibility, knowledge exchange, and future development.
