Asia-Pacific News
Probe into accident on Japanese tanker
Jul 29, 2010, 9:50 GMT
Abu Dhabi - Experts on Thursday examined a Japanese tanker rocked by an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz.
The M Star was taking oil from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to Japan when the explosion occurred off Oman on Wednesday, injuring one of the 31-member crew.
An initial search of the vessel in the emirate of Fujairah failed to turn uop any indications of explosives, local media reported, speculating pirates, terrorists or even a rogue wave might have caused the blast.
The ship's owner, Tokyo-based Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, said Wednesday that the ship's hull was damaged 'by an explosion which seemed to be an attack from external sources' at 00:30 am (2030 GMT Tuesday).
But Lebanese radio reports quoted Omani coast guard officials as saying the ship was hit by a tremor and they had no evidence of an attack. Iran reported an earthquake off its south coast, the reports added.
The ship, sailing under a Marshall Islands flag, had loaded 270,204 metric tons of oil, none of which leaked into the sea, the owners said.
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