Iraq explosives specialists working to defuse limpet mine on oil tanker

Baghdad: Iraqi explosives specialists had been working to defuse a big mine found on an oil tanker within the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities mentioned Friday.

The assertion got here a day after two non-public safety corporations mentioned sailors feared they’d discovered a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker within the waters off the Iraqi port of Basra. A limpet mine is a sort of naval mine that attaches to the aspect of a ship, often by a diver-member of particular forces. It later explodes, and might considerably harm a vessel.

The Iraqi assertion mentioned the mine had been connected to a tanker rented from Iraq’s Oil Advertising and marketing Firm SOMO that was refuelling one other vessel. Iraq’s naval forces had been making “an excellent effort to perform the mission” safely, mentioned Iraq’s Safety Media Cell, which is affiliated with the nation’s safety forces.

It was the primary official Iraqi affirmation {that a} mine was found on an Iraqi tanker transferring gasoline within the Persian Gulf to a different vessel. It didn’t determine both vessels or present extra particulars.