What exactly happened to BW Rhine ? For the time being, according to what the Singaporean owner of the tanker has indicated, an explosion, caused from “outside”, has affected the ship off the port city of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia. The tanker ” BW Rhine was hit from the outside while unloading in Jeddah… causing an explosion and fire on board, ”he said, without giving further details.
Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the explosion, which, according to the United Kingdom’s Office of Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), took place on Sunday off Jeddah, a key port on the Red Sea and center of distribution for Saudi oil giant Aramco.
The conflict in Yemen as a backdrop
Last month, an explosion rocked a Greek tanker in the Saudi port of Al-Shuqaiq in southern Saudi Arabia. The military coalition led by Riyadh, which intervenes in Yemen at war against the Houthi rebels, had attributed to the latter the responsibility for this act.
Dryad Global, a London-based marine watch company, reported on Sunday’s explosion, saying it hit an oil tanker “at the main anchorage” at Aramco port in Jeddah. The explosion is reported as Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalate attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia, in retaliation for the military campaign in Yemen.
Tens of thousands of deaths since 2014
Last month, the rebels said they had hit a factory operated by Aramco in Jeddah with a missile. The Saudi state-owned company, the world’s largest exporter of crude, had reported that the strike pierced an oil reservoir, triggering an explosion and fire.
These attacks underscore the vulnerability of Saudi Arabia’s multibillion-dollar oil infrastructure. Riyadh has repeatedly accused Tehran of supplying sophisticated weapons to the Houthis, which Iran denies. The conflict in Yemen has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 2014 and has caused, according to the UN, the worst ongoing humanitarian crisis in the world.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
