Splash 247 Reports that Saudi Arabia said an explosive-laden boat was used in yesterday’s attack on Hafnia’s LR tanker BW Rhine at a Saudi Aramco facility in Jeddah.
BW subsidiary Hafnia had merely described yesterday’s attack as coming from an “external source” whilst discharging at Jeddah. All 22 seafarers have been accounted for with no injuries.
Hull damage has occurred at water ballast tank five on the port side and cargo tank four on the port side of the 12-year-old ship.
An boat carrying explosives is a tactic commonly used by Houthi rebels based in Yemen.
The statement from Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry, via the country’s state-run Saudi Press Agency, yesterday also described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” but did not directly accuse any specific group of carrying it out. No terrorist or militant organisation has claimed responsibility so far.
“These acts of terrorism and vandalism, directed against vital installations, go beyond the kingdom and its vital facilities, to the security and stability of energy supplies to the world and the global economy,” a ministry spokesman said.