A Norwegian-owned tanker was hit by an explosion off Oman early on Tuesday, causing a fire in its engine room as maritime security deteriorates around the Strait of Hormuz. All crew members aboard the chemical tanker Stolt Magnesium were reported safe and no injuries were recorded.
The vessel is operated by Stolt Tankers, part of the Norwegian-Luxembourg shipping group Stolt-Nielsen. The company said the explosion was caused by an “unidentified external device” while the tanker was sailing in the Arabian Sea off the Omani coast.
The incident occurred at approximately 12.40 am local time on 14 July.
Norwegian-owned tanker crew reported safe
The explosion caused a fire in the Stolt Magnesium’s engine room. According to Stolt-Nielsen, the crew began efforts to bring the fire under control.
“All seafarers of Stolt Magnesium are safe and accounted for, with no injuries sustained,” the company said in a statement. The crew members’ families have also been contacted.
Stolt Tankers said it was working with authorities and maritime experts to secure the ship and its cargo. The company did not immediately provide details about the extent of the damage or the substances being transported.
The Stolt Magnesium is a chemical tanker operated by Stolt Tankers, one of the largest companies specialising in the maritime transport of chemicals and other bulk liquids.
UKMTO reported a possible projectile strike
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors security incidents affecting commercial shipping, received a report of a vessel being struck by an unknown projectile around 40 nautical miles north-east of Qalhat, Oman.
The location described by UKMTO corresponds to the position of the Stolt Magnesium. Initial reports had suggested that the vessel might have been hit by a missile.
Stolt-Nielsen has not confirmed what type of device caused the explosion. No government or armed group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The tanker was sailing in the Arabian Sea rather than inside the Strait of Hormuz itself. However, the attack occurred close to the strategic maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean.
Shipping risks are rising near the Strait of Hormuz
The explosion came during a series of incidents involving commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, amid renewed military confrontation involving Iran and the United States.
Two tankers operated by the United Arab Emirates, the Mombasa B and the Al Bahyah, were also struck in separate incidents in the area. According to reports cited by Norwegian business newspaper E24, one Indian seafarer was killed and several others were injured.
There is currently no confirmed evidence that the incident involving the Stolt Magnesium was directly connected to those attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. A significant share of globally traded oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
Repeated attacks on civilian vessels have increased insurance costs, disrupted shipping operations and raised concerns about the safety of seafarers. They have also contributed to renewed volatility in international oil and gas markets.
Stolt Tankers works to secure vessel and cargo
Stolt Tankers said all relevant authorities had been informed and that specialists were assessing how to safeguard the Stolt Magnesium and its cargo.
Further information is expected about the damage to the ship, the nature of the external device and whether the tanker will require assistance or be moved to a nearby port.
For Norway’s maritime industry, the incident highlights the growing exposure of Nordic-owned shipping companies to conflicts affecting international trade routes. Until investigators identify the device and establish who was responsible, the circumstances of the explosion remain uncertain.
