INVESTIGATORS looking into a supposed bombing on the starboard hull of a very large MOL crude tanker near the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday are finding other possible causes for the blast, including a collision with a submarine, an accidental mine explosion, a rogue wave - even an earthquake.

A Reuters reporter, who surveyed the 314,016-ton tanker, reported "a very large, square dent and puncture marks on one side of the hull" along with broken glass and doors. A lifeboat was also missing.

MOL first characterised the incident as caused by external forces, though local officials suggested later in the day the damage may have been caused by an earthquake or rogue wave. Investigators have also not ruled out the possibility of an onboard explosion, reported American Shipper.

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has commenced inspection of the blast damaged crude tanker M Star while the vessel was at anchor off Fujairah in the UAE, 70 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident occurred while outbound from the Strait of Hormuz, early last Wednesday. Masahiko Hibino, the company's tanker safety chief, declined to confirm earlier accounts that the explosion was the result of an "attack", according to a Bloomberg report.

The vessel may have been involved in a collision, said Moosa Murad, general manager at the Port of Fujairah, according to London's Tanker Operator journal.

MOL said 10 people were working on the investigation, which was being aided by the US Navy and the British authorities.

The explosion, which "may have been caused by an external attack," occurred at 5.30am Tokyo time Wednesday, injuring one of the crew, MOL said in a statement.

Crewed by 16 Filipinos and 15 Indians, the ship was carrying 270,000 tonnes of crude, but the incident did not cause any spill. Initial assessments from MOL found that one lifeboat was blown off the ship and there was some damage to the starboard tanks.

Source: shipping online