[060810.EN.SEA] MOL : M Star Incident 'Confirmed' As Terrorist Attack

Tokyo: A responsible source at the UAE Coast Guard has told news source WAM that investigations and an examination carried out by specialised teams had confirmed that MOL-owned oil tanker M Star had been the subject of a terrorist attack.

The source is quoted as saying, ''After the tanker had anchored 12 nautical miles off the Port of Fujairah, UAE explosives experts who collected and examined samples found a dent on the starboard side above the water line and remains of home-made explosives on the hull...

Probably the tanker had encountered a terrorist attack from a boat loaded with explosives".

The vessel, laden with 200,000 barrels of oil, was travelling to Japan in the Strait of Hormuz, on Wednesday 28 July 2010 when the incident occurred, leaving the ship with a large dent in its side and blown out windows and buckled doors at deck level.

The ‘confirmation’ of the terror attack comes as the vessel departed from Port of Fujairah today after cold repairs to the damage from the incident to ensure seaworthiness of the vessel.

Source : STA-Online, 06.08.10.