Iranian Vessels Damage Norse Tanker in Gulf

An Iranian frigate today attacked a Norwegian oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, then two Iranian speedboats fired on the stricken vessel when it radioed for help, shipping executives said.

The gulf-based executives quoted the captain of the 33,000-ton Petrobulk Ruler as saying several small fires broke out aboard his ship but were extinguished by his 25-member Filipino crew.

He reported “extensive damage” to the crew quarters, the officers’ deck and radio room. He said he and the chief officer suffered only “minor injuries from flying glass” shards, the executives said.

“I am not surprised, only a little shocked,” the Filipino captain, Florenzio Diga, was quoted as saying by radio to a company called Osco Shipping in Manila. “But I am OK,” he added.

Second Attack in 2 Days

The attack was the second in two days by the Iranians in the so-called “tanker war” and came apparently in retaliation for a string of Iraqi raids on Iranian oil tanker routes over the past days.

On Tuesday an Iranian jet fighter, believed to be a U.S.-built Phantom F-4, fired two missiles at the Dutch-operated tanker Petrobulk Pilot in the same area of the southern gulf, but they landed in the water and only one exploded.

The Petrobulk Ruler was sailing into the gulf when it was attacked.

At first, the executives reported only one Iranian craft involved in the attack. They later established the tanker was attacked first by a frigate, then by two speedboats.

Associated Press photographer Greg English, who later flew over the anchored tanker, said machine-gun fire destroyed all windows on the bridge. He counted six large shell holes, including one each on the deck and bridge and the rest along the hull.