An oil tanker near Kuwait’s coast experienced a significant explosion, raising concerns about a potential large oil spill into the Gulf waters with serious environmental consequences. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the explosion on Wednesday, March 4, off Kuwait’s coast.
According to UKMTO, the Master of a moored tanker witnessed a substantial explosion followed by a small craft departing the area in south-east Mubarak Al-Kabeer in Kuwait on the evening of Wednesday, March 4. This incident occurred as tensions escalated in the Middle East, with joint strikes by Israel and the US on key Iranian sites on February 28, leading to the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Concerns about environmental impact arose as oil was observed in the water from a cargo tank. Despite the vessel taking on water, there were no reported fires, and the crew is safe. Authorities are currently investigating the explosion. Vessels are advised to proceed cautiously and report any suspicious activities to UKMTO.
