Greek Tanker Olympic Life Reports External Explosion Off Oman, Fuel Discharge Into Sea

A Greek crude oil tanker reported an external explosion while it was off Oman near Muscat on Tuesday, with the incident occurring shortly after Iran’s IRGC vowed revenge for U.S. strikes on boats in the Strait of Hormuz and missile sites on shore.

The Maritime Executive identified the vessel as Olympic Life (318,676 dwt) and said it was reported to be 60 nautical miles east of Oman in the Arabian Sea, with the master informing UK Maritime Trade Operations of an “external explosion” above the waterline on the port side.

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UK Maritime Trade Operations said the master reported an “external explosion” near the waterline on the port side aft of the ship at 0945 UTC on May 26, and that the crew and vessel were safe even though some bunker fuel discharged into the sea.

Seatrade Maritime News reported that JMIC identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged VLCC Olympic Life and said it was proceeding to its next port of call.

The blast was described by Türkiye Today as taking place in the Gulf of Oman about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat, with UKMTO calling it an “external explosion” and providing no further details on the source of the blast.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity after the May 26 explosion, while the incident was also framed as part of a wider Strait of Hormuz crisis involving months of escalating attacks, explosions, boardings, and suspected mine activity.

gCaptain reported that Reuters said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told negotiators talks could continue for several more days as they finalized the language of a potential agreement, even as UKMTO warned that security conditions remained highly unstable.

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The Maritime Executive said U.S. officials on Monday asserted they had spotted IRGC boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and it added that U.S. forces struck the launchers near Bandar Abbas.

Türkiye Today described the U.S. Central Command operation as a “self-defense” action aimed at protecting American forces and commercial shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz, while also stating that Iran has been laying mines in nearby waters as part of its campaign to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The South China Morning Post reported that the captain reported the explosion on the hull and that UKMTO said the incident was an “external explosion,” without detailing the cause of the blast.

Seatrade Maritime News said the attack followed U.S. strikes on two Iranian boats attempting lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz on 25 May, as well as a naval base near the port city of Bandar Abbas, and it described the strikes as “self-defense” by U.S. Central Command.

The Maritime Executive reported that CENTCOM said the blockade of Iran continues to be in full force, reaching 108 commercial vessels redirected and noting that four had been disabled, while also stating that 15,000 troops and more than 200 U.S. aircraft and warships support the mission.

In the same reporting thread, The Maritime Executive listed the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group/31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and multiple guided-missile destroyers as involved in the efforts.

Türkiye Today said tanker traffic through the strait has sharply declined since the conflict escalated in late February as shipping companies and insurers pulled back because of mounting security risks, while also stating that the strategic waterway normally carries around one-fifth of global oil production.

The Maritime Executive added that the tanker’s AIS signal showed it underway and moving away from Oman after having said it was coming from the Malacca anchorage and awaiting orders, as authorities investigated the incident.