Oman evacuated all 25 crew from crude tanker RITI after a security incident and onboard fire near the Strait of Hormuz. A separate projectile attack was subsequently reported farther inside the Arabian Gulf.
1. RITI fire ends with full crew evacuation
• NAVAREA IX Warning 420/26 identified RITI on fire and anchored at 26°24.07′N, 056°24.72′E, approximately one nautical mile northwest of Ra’s Tahir.
• Oman’s Royal Navy and Maritime Security Centre subsequently evacuated all 25 crew members after reporting that the Panama-flagged vessel had been targeted.
• RITI, IMO 9249075, is a 2004-built crude tanker of approximately 166,739 dwt. Vessel records identify Better Progress Shipping as manager.
• The evacuated crew received medical care. No crew fatality was reported by Oman.
• The weapon, attacker, cargo condition, structural damage and final casualty status had not been officially established at the research cutoff.
2. Separate projectile strike reported south of Lavan Island
• UKMTO Warning 188-26 records a separate attack at 1800 UTC on October 30, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island, Iran.
• The unnamed vessel was struck on its port side by an unknown projectile, causing an onboard fire.
• Its crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact recorded when the warning was issued.
• UKMTO did not publish the vessel’s name, IMO number, flag, cargo or attacker. The incident must not be merged with RITI or Louise 1 without further evidence.
• Iranian claims involving four burning tankers remained unverified and were not added to the confirmed casualty count.
3. Russia-to-India tanker freight remains at record levels
• Freight for Russian crude from western ports to India remained at record levels in late October.
• Shipping Urals crude to India was assessed at approximately $30 per barrel or more, compared with about $20 in September.
• A 100,000-tonne Aframax cargo from Russia’s Baltic ports to western India cost about $23 million, up from $13 million to $16 million in September.
• Suezmax freight on the Baltic route was approximately $27 million, while Black Sea-to-India voyages reached a record $30 million, versus about $19 million in September.
• Black Sea disruption, longer voyages, strong tanker demand and limited available tonnage continued to constrain chartering options.
4. GEM NO. 2 leak stopped as coastal remediation continues
• UAE authorities reported that the oil leak from GEM NO. 2, IMO 9735373, had been stopped, with no new leakage detected.
• Pollution remained concentrated off Umm Al Quwain and extended partly toward Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah, although reported density had declined.
• Technical teams were repairing damaged sections, restoring operating systems and assessing the tanker’s structural integrity.
• Precautionary beach and coastal closures remained in effect. No commercial-port closure, navigation-channel suspension or drinking-water interruption was reported.
5. Philippine ferry barred from service after severe list
• MV Virgen de Peñafrancia II developed a severe starboard list and partially submerged at the Port of Real, Quezon, early October 30.
• MARINA’s initial report said a mooring line snapped amid strong currents. Three passengers were injured by a shifting drum and were reported stable.
• The vessel’s Passenger Ship Safety Certificate was suspended, barring further operation until inspection and technical evaluation establish seaworthiness.
• Investigators are examining the mooring arrangement, stability, cargo securing, vessel condition and possible safety lapses. The initial cause remains subject to investigation.
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Sources
NAVAREA IX and Oman Maritime Security Centre, UKMTO, Reuters, Emirates News Agency, Philippine MARINA, DeepDraft Security Desk
This update is part of the DeepDraft SITREP series covering developing maritime operational situations.
Strait of Hormuz, Tanker Shipping, Maritime Security, Oman, UKMTO, Tanker Freight, Crew Evacuation
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