Gulf oil routes under fire: tanker hit 51 miles off Qatar as attacks spread
The Acers oil tanker was struck by multiple projectiles 51 nautical miles off Qatar.
The conflict targeting merchant shipping in the Middle East has expanded into new waters after an oil and chemical tanker was struck off Qatar’s northern coast, signaling a broader threat to critical energy routes in the Arabian Gulf.
The Acers, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged vessel with the IMO number 9301902, was hit by multiple projectiles around 1900 UTC on Wednesday, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The attack occurred approximately 51 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar. While UKMTO confirmed casualties among the crew, it did not disclose their number or severity.
An expanding zone of maritime conflict: Qatar
Since Iran resumed attacks on commercial shipping on September 28, most incidents have been concentrated near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas shipments. The strike on the Acers, however, marks the first reported attack this far west in the Arabian Gulf during the current escalation. This shift raises concerns about the safety of shipping lanes serving major energy export terminals in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, noted that the incident represents a significant geographical expansion of the conflict. “This is the first attack this far west since the latest escalation began,” he said, warning that the widening zone of operations could disrupt key trade routes.
The attack on the Acers follows a period of heightened aggression in the region. Between September 28 and October 5, at least a dozen tankers and gas carriers were targeted near the Strait of Hormuz. The last fatal incident occurred on September 9, when two sailors died aboard the Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia in the same area.
Red Sea tensions flare amid broader instability
On the same day as the Acers attack, the CUL Klang, a 2,400 TEU containership operated by China’s CU Lines, came under fire in the southern Red Sea. The vessel was targeted by armed craft near Yemen’s Mocha coast at approximately 0615 UTC, though its crew remained unharmed. The incident has renewed fears of instability around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical maritime chokepoint.
Separate reports initially suggested a fire aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged VLCC Dhalkut, located 22 nautical miles east of Fujairah. However, maritime security firm Vanguard later clarified that there were no signs of damage to the vessel, which is operated by Asyad and chartered by Trafigura.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that at least 24 seafarers have been killed in 93 confirmed attacks on merchant vessels since February, when hostilities in the region intensified.
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