The Strait of Hormuz, long a tinderbox for global trade, witnessed another tragedy Friday: the fiery sinking of tugboat Musaffa 2, with three Indonesian crew members missing after a presumed attack.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry detailed the ordeal – an explosion sparked flames on the 2012-built, 26-meter UAE vessel, dooming it during a rescue mission. One burned Indonesian sailor recuperates in Khasab, Oman; the search for three others presses on.
UKMTO logged a third-party report of the assault on a tug off Oman’s north coast, aligning with the Musaffa 2’s path to aid the missile-struck Safina Prestige, whose engine room blazed post-Wednesday hit.
Consultants confirmed the 134-ton craft’s involvement, fueling suspicions of coordinated strikes amid soaring risks. Iran’s IRGC has barricaded the strait, pledging to torch intruders in solidarity with anti-US, anti-Israel fronts roiling the Middle East.
Commanding 20% of planetary oil throughput, Hormuz bridges the Gulf’s treasure trove to world consumers via Saudi Arabia, UAE, and peers. Alternative conduits exist sparingly; the EIA warns most cargoes have nowhere else to go.
Investigators probe the blast’s origins as the world watches this artery of commerce. The loss amplifies calls for de-escalation, lest routine aid missions turn into fatal gambles in an increasingly lawless sea.