Fatal explosion on board Greek-managed tanker in the Persian Gulf

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Greek-managed petroleum tanker Velos Sapphire (IMO 9321201), sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was struck by an explosion while transiting the Persian Gulf. The vessel was travelling in ballast, without cargo, bound for the port of Sitra in Bahrain when the incident occurred at approximately 01:15 local time.

The explosion, which initial assessments attribute to a potential missile strike, hit the port side of the vessel's stern, resulting in a fire that the crew successfully extinguished. Velos Tankers Ltd, the managing company, confirmed that one crew member, initially reported missing, was subsequently found dead. The remaining crew members are unharmed, and no reports of marine pollution have been recorded following the incident.

In accordance with official directives, the Velos Sapphire has been diverted to the Khalifa Bin Salman port in Bahrain. The vessel is currently undergoing a formal investigation to determine the extent of the damage to the hull and to verify the exact cause of the explosion.