Bahrain Port Fire After Iranian Missile Debris Strikes Tanker Amid Rising Gulf Tensions
A deadly incident unfolded at a Bahrain port on Monday after debris from an intercepted Iranian missile struck an oil tanker, triggering a fire and killing one worker, officials confirmed.
According to authorities in Bahrain, the falling debris hit a foreign tanker docked at the port city of Salman, sparking a blaze that emergency crews quickly managed to extinguish. However, the impact caused serious damage to the vessel and casualties among workers.
One Worker Killed, Two Injured
Officials said one shipyard worker was killed, while two others suffered serious injuries in the incident. The tanker’s owner also confirmed the fatality as investigations into the incident continue.
Lena Alvling, a representative for the company linked to the vessel, said the ship sustained damage from aerial impacts while docked in the Arabian Gulf.
The tanker involved in the incident, Stena Imperative, is a 183-meter oil tanker owned by Stena and operated by US shipping company Crowley Maritime.
First Fatality in Bahrain
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said the death marks the first fatality in the kingdom since Iran began launching missile and drone attacks against Gulf states.
The campaign began after the United States and Israel carried out large-scale airstrikes on Iran, reportedly killing Iran’s supreme leader and other senior officials, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Rising Threat to Gulf Shipping
Iran has increasingly targeted tanker ships and energy infrastructure across the Gulf, raising alarm among shipping companies and global energy markets.
Since the latest escalation, more than 200 vessels, including oil and liquefied gas tankers, have reportedly anchored near the Strait of Hormuz to avoid the growing security risk.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has urged shipping companies to avoid sailing through the affected waters until conditions stabilize.
Multiple Tankers Targeted
The Bahrain incident follows several recent maritime security incidents across the Gulf. On Sunday, three tankers were damaged off the Gulf coast, resulting in the death of one seafarer. A Palau-flagged oil tanker near Oman was also struck by unidentified projectiles, injuring four crew members and forcing the evacuation of all 20 sailors on board. Meanwhile, a tanker at the UAE’s Jebel Ali port narrowly escaped damage after missile debris fell nearby, while another fuel tanker off the UAE coast was damaged in a separate attack. In another incident, a drone targeted an oil tanker near the UAE, though the vessel managed to sail away without sustaining damage.
The growing number of incidents highlights mounting risks to global shipping routes and energy supply lines in the Gulf region, particularly around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Source: The Times of Israel