An oil tanker suffered an explosion off the coast of Iraq, damaging a tank that is losing water, a representative for the ship said.
The Sonangol Namibe was approached by a small boat near Khor Al Zubair in Iraq, according to Sonangol Marine Services. A short time later a loud bang was heard and the crew said the ship is losing water from a ballast tank — a compartment designed to help with the vessel’s stability.
The company said there are no reports of any pollution and there was no cargo on board. A UK Naval group earlier reported that oil was seen in the water nearby.
Iran’s IRIB News reported an oil tanker was struck early Thursday by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy. It didn’t identify the vessel.
The incident with the Sonangol Namibe marks one of the farthest reaches where vessels have been targeted since the war began, expanding its reach deep into the Persian Gulf. It’s also the largest tanker to be hit.
It follows a strike on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and hits on other vessels in the area as the Middle East conflict enters its sixth day.
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Topics
Energy
Oil Gas
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Interested in Energy?
Get automatic alerts for this topic.
