Liberian Tanker in Gulf Hits Mine; Damage Slight
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MANAMA, Bahrain — A Liberian tanker loaded with Kuwaiti oil struck a mine off Kuwait on Friday but sustained only minor damage, Persian Gulf-based maritime salvage executives reported.
They said the 273,408-ton Stena Explorer struck the mine in Kuwait’s main oil shipping channel about 30 miles from the Kuwaiti mainland.
The vessel was not severely damaged and probably will return to Kuwait under its own power, said the executives, speaking with the condition they not be identified.
It was the fourth vessel to hit a mine off Kuwait since May 16. The maritime executives said the approaches to Kuwait’s Al Ahmadi oil terminal have been mined by Iran.
Iraq and Iran have been at war since September, 1980, and Iran accuses Kuwait of aiding Iraq.
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