Salvors have managed to extinguish a blaze on a Frontline tanker following an attack on two vessels in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
Rumours of torpedo attacks swirled in shipping circles from the early hours, as conflicting reports cast doubt on the fate of the 110,000-dwt Front Altair (built 2016) and the 27,000-dwt BSM-managed tanker Kokuka Couragous (built 2010) and their crews.
Oil prices rose 4% over worries about Middle East supplies as 44 seafarers abandoned both vessels.
Crew from the Frontline ship were taken to Iran, while the BSM team boarded a US navy vessel.
Iranian news outlets erroneously claimed both crews were taken to Iran, and they also reported Front Altair had sunk, which was denied by Frontline.
The "surface" attacks were the second in a month near the Strait of Hormuz, following the alleged limpet mine assaults on four tankers off Fujairah in the UAE in May.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was visiting Iran on Thursday. He urged all sides not to let tensions escalate.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described the incidents as “suspicious" and called for regional dialogue.
Oman and the UAE have not yet commented.
War risk underwriters will face the primary exposure to the losses related to the latest terrorist attacks.
The region was added to the high risk areas by the Joint War Committee following previous attacks last month.
