A ‘Potential Hijack’ off the UAE Coast

On Aug 2, a UK maritime security agency said that it was possible that a ship had been hijacked in the United Arab Emirates, after two people on a tanker had been killed in an attack that occurred five days prior.

Initially described as a “non-piracy” incident, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations then increased its reporting to a “potential hijack”.

The endangered vessel, categorized as an asphalt and bitumen tanker, was identified as the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess. It had been reported that the vessel was heading to Sohar, a port on Oman’s northern coast.

This comes several days after an attack on an Israeli-linked tanker bound for the United Arab Emirates, which the United States and its allies accused Iran of orchestrating.

It has been reported that a number of incidents, both in the Persian Gulf and throughout the region, appear entirely suspicious.