Skylight

The 'Skylight', after being struck by a USV on March 1 by Iranian forces approximately five nautical miles north of the port of Khasab in Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, was engulfed by the fire and at risk of sinking completely, potentially releasing some of its cargo into the waters of the Gulf. The attack, claimed by Iran as a measure against an “illegal” passage through the strait in violation of orders issued by Tehran following the announced closure of the waterway in response to US-Israeli airstrikes, marked the first confirmed strike on a civilian vessel in the waterway since the start of the military escalation between Tehran on one side, and Washington and Jerusalem on the other. Nearby vessels had responded to the 'Skylight's distress call, evacuating the crew to coastal facilities where the injured received treatment for burns and various traumas. The 'Skylight' was operated by Red Sea Ship Management and sanctioned for its alleged role in transporting Iranian petroleum products through the Persian Gulf. The UKMTO has received confirmation that the ship was attacked by an unmanned surface vehicle (USV).

Oman has reported an attack on the 'Skylight' in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, 2026. Four people on board the tanker were injured and needed medical treatment. The crew members were Indian and Iranian. The attack occurred five nautical miles off Musandam at the Strait of Hormuz entrance, setting the tanker ablaze. The vessel had arrived on Feb 22 in ballast. There were 20 crew members aboard, among them 15 Indian and five Iranian nationals. The Oman Navy responded swiftly to evacuate the crew. The master and an oiler remained missing. The last signal was received at 03.00 a.m. UTC. The crew boat 'Panicker' arrived at the incident a few hours later and remained at the scene. It remained unclear who was responsible for the attack. However, Iran was said to have threatened attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz via radio after the US and Israel invaded the country. The vessel was anchored in pos. 26° 17' N 056° 16' E in the Persian Gulf. The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Dec 18, 2025, as it was claimed to be a lookout ship monitoring ship movements on the Hormuz Strait on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Reports with photos and videos: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/security/seafarer-killed-as-three-tankers-hit-in-middle-east https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1296684/four-ships-attacked-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-one-greek-flagged/ https://twitter.com/i/status/2028097204657791040 https://twitter.com/i/status/2028040393078587610

Vessel MERMAID (IMO: 9330020) has been reported to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) for abandonment. Details: - Flag: St Kitts & Nevis - Port: Al Hamriyah - Country: UAE - Owed Wages: 3 months - Number of Seafarers: 20 - Seafarer Nationalities: Georgia, India, Russia, Ukraine - Reported to ITF: 01 Feb 2022 - Status: Open This information is sourced from the ITF Seafarers abandonment list, which tracks cases of crew abandonment worldwide.

The US Coast Guard medevaced a 25-year-old man five miles offshore of Sabine Pass, Texas, from the "Caribe Cristina" in the afternoon of Jan 12, 2019. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a request from the vessel stating a crewmember aboard the vessel was in need of medical assistance. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. A Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew was launched to the scene. The crew of the RB-M transferred the crew member to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Station Sabine Pass. Weather on scene was reported as two-foot seas with 12-mph winds.

On Mar 7 at 11 a.m. the "Krystal Harbour" arrived off the port of Setubal, while a crewmember of the vessel remained missing. The search had to be suspended due to weather conditions. On site were the corvette "Jacinto Candido", a lifeboat of the station Sesimbra, an EH 101 Merlin helicopter,an aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force, three merchant ships and two tugs hired by the shipowner. The ship was to anchor at the harbor, where it will be subject to an inspection. On Mar 6 at 08:12 a.m. an Explosion had occurred on board when the tanker was sailing 13 miles southwest of Cape Espichel.

On Mar 6 at 8 p.m. the Portuguese Navy reported that the risk of a spillage remained slim, and the "Harbour Krystal" has now been cleared to proceed to Sines, where she will unload the 8.000 tons of fuel oil on board. In this short voyage she will be escorted by the corvette "Jacinto Cândido - F476", and possibly by one of the Svitzer tugs called-in by the ship owner. Once the unloading operations have been completed at Sines, the "Harbour Krystal" will sail to Setúbal, where she will undergo the necessary repairs.