Velos Sapphire: operator announces seafarer’s death after Gulf explosion
Velos Tankers announced on 6 November 2026 that a seafarer had died aboard the tanker Velos Sapphire following an explosion in the Gulf, Reuters reports. The company suspects a missile attack, but cause and responsibility have not been established.
According to the Greek manager, the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was sailing empty toward Bahrain. The crew extinguished the fire, with no other injuries or pollution reported. The tanker was taken to Khalifa Bin Salman Port, where the extent of damage remained under assessment.
Seatrade Maritime also reports a fatality, citing security firm Vanguard. Sources differ on the date: Reuters places the explosion on 5 November, while Seatrade and the International Maritime Organization’s incident table date it to 4 November. The death announcement is dated 6 November; the incident chronology still needs clarification.