A Malta-flagged oil tanker was attacked while navigating in the vicinity of the Omani coast, the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility said, adding that it is closely monitoring the incident.
Reports read that the tanker, owned by Dynacom Tankers has hit by an unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz.
According to the information currently available to the Maltese authorities, all 23 crew members of the M/T KAVOMALEAS have been safely rescued by the Omani authorities and there have been no reported casualties.
The Ministry said it remains in close contact with the relevant authorities and the vessel’s management and representatives as the situation continues to develop.
The Merchant Shipping Directorate, together with Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Malta), has been actively engaged since the first notification of the incident, maintaining continuous communication with the managers and the competent authorities coordinating the response.
Minister for Sustainable Mobility Chris Bonett welcomed the confirmation that all crew members were brought safely ashore and expressed his appreciation to the Omani authorities for their swift and professional response.
“The safety of seafarers remains our foremost priority. We are relieved that all crew members have been rescued safely and are grateful to the Omani authorities for their prompt assistance. Malta will continue to fulfil its responsibilities as a leading flag State by closely following this incident and cooperating with all the relevant international authorities,” he said.
The Ministry reiterated Malta’s commitment to the safety and security of international shipping and to the protection of those serving at sea. It said that it will continue to monitor developments closely and provide any assistance required within the framework of Malta’s responsibilities as a flag State.
Featured Image:
A photo showing the location of the tanker, issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre
A new report examines how the growth of teleworking and flexible working arrangements is affecting employees' lives
The warning follows an alert issued earlier this week by LESA over fraudulent messages claiming recipients had outstanding traffic contraventions
The scheme was approved under the The Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework