Updated: Kokuka Courageous under tow to UAE following Gulf of Oman attack

The 2010 built, 27,000 dwt chemical tanker was one of two vessels attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday morning along with 2016-built Frontline aframax, Front Altair, forcing the crews of both vessels to evacuate.

Read more: Two tankers abandoned in attacks in Gulf of Oman

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said the Kokuka Courageous was now undertow and headed towards Khor Fakkan having sustained damage to the vessel’s starboard side. The manager said the vessel was stable and there was no loss of cargo or danger of sinking.

The 21 crew of the Kokuka Courageous abandoned ship after the attack and were rescued by the US warship USS Bainbridge and the merchant vessel Coastal Ace which were in the vicinity.

US Navy personnel attending to seafarers from the Kokuka Courageous (Photo: US Navy)

“With the assistance of the US Navy our crew have now returned to the Kokuka Courageous and have restored emergency power on-board,” BSM said.

“One crew man from the Kokuka Courageous was slightly injured in the incident and has received first aid treatment. He is now back on board the Kokuka Courageous.”

The exact cause of the attacks on the Kokuka Courageous and Front Altair remain unknown with the US blaming Iran, and Iran saying the accusations are unfounded.

Read all Seatrade Maritime News coverage of the tanker attacks here

Speaking at press conference in Tokyo president of the vessel’s owner Kokuka Sangyo Co, Yutaka Katada, said: "The crew told us something came flying at the ship, and they found a hole. Then some crew witnessed the second shot."

Katada said there was no possibility that the ship, carrying 25,000 tons of methanol, was hit by a torpedo, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile the US Navy has published video which it says shows an Iranian patrol boat removing an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous.

Watch: US Navy video of Iran vessel removing limpet mine from Kokuka Courageous

The attacks have been widely condemned by shipping industry organisations and raise the spectre of disruption to trade in the Straits of Hormuz one of the world’s key waterways.