Mystery as explosion hits Israeli-owned cargo vessel sailing in Gulf of Oman

AN explosion has struck an Israeliowned cargo ship sailing out of the Middle East.

The unexplained blast has renewed concerns about ship security amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran.

The crew and vessel were safe, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the Royal Navy. The blast forced the ship to head to the nearest port.

The site of the blast, the Gulf of Oman, saw a series of explosions in 2019 that the US Navy blamed on Iran, against the backdrop of steeply rising threats between ex-president Donald Trump and Iranian leaders.

Tehran denied the accusations, which came amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Dryad Global, a maritime intelligence firm, identified the vessel as the MV Helios Ray, a Bahamanflagged roll-on, roll-off vehicle cargo ship. Satellite-tracking data from website Marinetraffic.com showed the Helios Ray had been nearly entering the Arabian Sea yesterday before it suddenly turned around and began heading back toward the Strait of Hormuz. It still listed Singapore as its destination.

A United Nations ship database identified the vessel’s owners as a Tel Aviv-based firm called Ray Shipping. The US Navy’s Bahrainbased 5th Fleet was “aware and monitoring” the situation, Commander Rebecca Rebarich said.

While the circumstances surrounding the explosion remain unclear, Dryad Global, said it was very possible the blast stemmed from “asymmetric activity by Iranian military”.