Taiwan tanker chartered by CPC Corp sinks after being 'hit by torpedo' in Gulf of Oman

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/06/13
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An oil tanker chartered by Taiwan’s state oil refiner CPC Corp has reportedly sunk after being "hit by a torpedo" around noon today (June 13), according to a senior company official.

Wu I-Fang, CPC’s petrochemical business division CEO, told Reuters that the 800-foot oil tanker Front Altair laden with 75,000 tonnes of naptha, a flammable liquid hydrocarbon, when it was "suspected of being hit by a torpedo," at around noon today Taiwan time. There are unverified reports that it was hit by a mine.

The ship was bound for Taiwan from Qatar when it was struck about 25 miles from Jask, Iran, reports Reuters. A fire ensued and the order was given to abandon ship.

The owner of the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, Norway's Frontline shipping said the vessel had been "attacked," which led to three explosions onboard. Wu said that the vessel has since sunk, but its crew has been rescued.    [FULL  STORY]