MV M. Star
The M/V M. Star is a VLCC oil tanker operated by the Japanese company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. It was launched in December 2008.[1]
Specifications
- Gross tonnage 160,292 tons
- LOA : 333.00 m
- Flag : Marshall Islands
- Built in : 2008
- Crew : 31
- Cargo : Crude oil 270,204 MT
July 2010 event
The M. Star was damaged by an explosion on 27 July 2010, injuring one member of the ship's crew.[2]
The UAE initially said the M. Star was damaged by a "freak wave" from an earthquake.[3] Mitsui officials said, however, that they believed the explosion was caused by a terrorist attack.[4] In August, the UAE said the blast was probably caused by an attack, possibly a suicide bomber in a speedboat. Radar had picked up a suspicious craft near the tanker just before the attack, and traces of explosives were found on the hull.[5]
On November 22, 2010, the United States Maritime Administration confirmed that the blast was the result of a terrorist attack.[6]
References
- ↑ http://www.mol.co.jp/opensea/0904_nnl.html
- ↑ http://www.mol.co.jp/pr-e/2010/e-pr-1037.html
- ↑ Japanese tanker damaged near Oman
- ↑ Terror attack or rogue wave?: Japanese supertanker damage raises alarm in Persian Gulf
- ↑ Terror theory backed by tanker ‘black box’
- ↑ U.S. warns ships of confirmed terror threat CNN.com, November 22, 2010