Ambrey: Oil tanker leaving UAE changes course toward Iranian waters

A Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker en route from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore altered its course toward Iranian territorial waters, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey.

According to Al Arabiya, the company reported the development on November 14.

Ambrey said the vessel, which was located 22 nautical miles east of the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, had earlier been approached by three small boats while sailing south through the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker later deviated from its route in the Gulf of Oman.

The maritime security firm described the episode as “likely highly targeted.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre, which initially classified the incident as a “suspicious event,” confirmed it had received an alert of the situation 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan.

UAE authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

By Aghakazim Guliyev