Oman Evacuates 16 Crew From Attacked Saudi Tanker SIDR

Oman has evacuated 16 crew members from the Saudi-flagged oil tanker SIDR after it was struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, the Maritime Security Centre said on Monday. A Royal Navy of Oman vessel provided logistical support and medical care to those taken off the ship, which was hit about two nautical miles northwest of Musandam. The tanker had 25 crew members in total. Two sailors were killed in the attack, and Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri said last week that both victims were Filipino. Earlier reports indicated seven crew members were unaccounted for, though their status has not been confirmed. Oman said it has now completed its rescue and support operation for the SIDR, but did not provide further details on the condition of remaining crew, the extent of damage to the vessel, or its next steps. The SIDR, owned by Bahri, was one of two Saudi supertankers hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz last Monday. The attack occurred amid ongoing fighting between Iran and the United States, with Iran reportedly disrupting shipping traffic through the strait while the U.S. maintains a counter-blockade of Iranian ports. Bahri, formally the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, was established in 1978 and is headquartered in Riyadh. It is one of the world's largest owners and operators of very large crude carriers, with business units spanning oil, chemicals, logistics and dry bulk shipping.