Coinciding with the publication of a message by the “Persian Gulf Management Authority” stating that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until further notice, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident involving an oil tanker in waters near Oman.
The British military-affiliated agency announced that an oil tanker caught fire in its engine room, 21 nautical miles north of Oman’s Port of Sohar. No further details have been released regarding the cause of the incident or the extent of the damage.
Some sources have identified the vessel as the “MT Jalveer,” and it is said that its crew consists of Indian nationals. The Embassy of India in Oman also confirmed in a message published on the social media network X that it is aware of the incident, is tracking the vessel’s situation, and is coordinating with local Omani authorities.
This incident occurred at a time when an account titled the “Persian Gulf Management Authority” wrote on X that, following rising tensions and an announcement by the Iranian Armed Forces, the Strait of Hormuz would be closed until further notice. The message instructed transit permit holders to wait for subsequent instructions.
The tanker fire near the coast of Oman marks the second incident involving commercial vessels in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours, heightening concerns regarding shipping security in one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.
