An Israeli ship apparently traveling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman, maritime surveillance companies reported on Friday, adding that there were no deaths or injuries.
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The MV Helios Ray, an Israeli vessel carrying vehicles, "
was the victim of an explosion in the Gulf of Oman,
" said Dryad Global, a company specializing in maritime security.
The ship was apparently making the trip between Dammam, a port city in eastern Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, at the time of the explosion Thursday in northwest Oman, the company reports.
The vessel "
is owned by HELIOS Ltd, an Israeli company registered on the Isle of Man,
" adds Dryad Global.
No member of the crew was injured and "
the ship appears to be returning to (its) port of origin
", according to the same source.
The United Kingdom's Office for Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported on the explosion indicating that the vessel, without identifying it, and the crew were "
safe
".
“
Investigations are ongoing,
” UKMTO added.
According to the Marine Traffic website, the boat, which flies the Bahamian flag, had left Dammam on Wednesday and was due to arrive in Singapore next week.
Dryad Global suggests that Iran could be responsible for the explosion, the incident taking place amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic.
"
While the details of the incident remain unclear, there is a realistic possibility that the event was the result of asymmetric activity by the Iranian military
," said the maritime surveillance company.
There are many tensions between the two countries, "
particularly in view of the growing signs of rapprochement between Iran and the Biden administration
," notes Dryad Global.
Read also: Iran: Trump slowly on the warpath
In addition, "
Iran increasingly fears the improvement of relations between Israel and the Gulf States
", adds the company with reference to recent normalization agreements between the Hebrew State and countries like the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain.
