Boat Collides With Ship In Arabian Gulf, Tries Hitting Others, Says UKMTO

A small boat collided with a merchant vessel in the Arabian Gulf on Sunday and then attempted to hit other nearby ships, according to a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The incident happened around 150 kilometers northwest of the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates. UKMTO said the small craft first struck the merchant ship and was later seen trying to approach and collide with other vessels in the same area.

After the collision, the crew members on board the small craft were seen transferring to another nearby small boat. The merchant ship involved remained at the location for a while before continuing its journey to the next scheduled port.

Shortly after the incident, the merchant vessel received several messages from a group claiming to be local authorities.

According to the UKMTO report, these messages requested the ship to stop and allow people, who claimed to represent the local authority, to come aboard.

However, UKMTO confirmed that all crew members on the merchant vessel were safe and well. There were no injuries or damage reported beyond the attempted collisions.

The UKMTO posted its report about the incident at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday and advised all vessels in the area to proceed with caution. It also encouraged ships to report any suspicious activity and stay alert.

As of now, the incident has not been confirmed by the United Arab Emirates authorities. The reason behind the aggressive behavior of the small craft remains unknown.

UKMTO also reminded vessels that communication at sea can be maintained using VHF radios, which allow ships to connect with marinas, other boats, and the coastguard.

Reference: UKMTO

Source: Maritime Shipping News