Velos Sapphire Hit in Persian Gulf, Seafarer Killed

A seafarer was killed on the Greek-managed oil products tanker Velos Sapphire after the tanker was struck in the Persian Gulf on or around November 4-5, 2026.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, operated by Athens-based Velos Tankers, was sailing unladen toward Bahrain when it was hit by two unidentified projectiles. A fire started on board; the crew extinguished it. No pollution was reported. The tanker was subsequently brought to Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain, where surveyors are assessing the extent of hull damage.

One crew member was initially reported missing following the explosion. The seafarer was later found fatally injured on board.

The attack follows a series of incidents in the region over the preceding weeks. In late October, a limpet mine attack disabled a tanker just northeast of Khasab in the Strait of Hormuz. Days later, Oman's navy evacuated all 25 crew from the tanker RITI after a fire broke out on board. According to Riviera Maritime Media, 25 seafarers have been killed across the Hormuz region since the onset of the US-Iran conflict, with 129 incidents confirmed by the International Maritime Organization as of November 6.