The UAE confirmed last Sunday that four vessels had been hit without naming them or disclosing details of the attack, but it was claimed that there were no casualties and that Fujairah port was operating normally.
Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, said in a statement on Monday that one of the two Saudi vessels attacked was on her way to load Saudi crude from Ras Tanura for Saudi Aramco's customers in the US.
The attack did not cause any casualties or oil spills but caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels, said the statement carried on state news agency SPA.
The vessels were identified as the Bahri-owned VLCC ‘Amjad’ and the Bakri-controlled LR2 ‘Al Marzoqah’.
Falih said the attack aimed to undermine maritime freedom saying; "Security of oil supplies to consumers all over the world. The international community has a joint responsibility to protect the safety of maritime navigation and the security of oil tankers, to mitigate against the adverse consequences of such incidents on energy markets and the danger they pose to the global economy."
Earlier this month, the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) warned that US commercial ships, including oil tankers, sailing through key Middle East waterways, such as the Straits of Hormuz, could be targeted by Iran in one of the threats to US interests posed by Tehran.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman called the incident "worrisome and dreadful", and asked for an investigation into the matter.
Video later emerged showing damage to the Norwegian-flagged 2005-built MR ‘Andrea Victory’ following the attack.
Singapore-based manager Thome Ship Management, confirmed the damage, but said the ship was not in danger of sinking and the exact circumstances of the incident remained unsure.
The other vessel involved in the attack was the local bunker tanker ‘A Michel’.
No group had claimed responsibility for the incident by the end of this week.
The LMA’s Joint War Risk Committee has met and said that very little information was to hand about the explosions at Fujairah anchorage on 12th Mayand the circumstances and methods employed remain unclear.
There is no doubt that considerable damage was done and there will be significant claims.
The Committee will reconvene next week to assess the situation further as more information becomes available, it said.
Insurance and P&I service providers Gard said that ships’ Masters should stay in close contact with local port authorities/ship’s agent in the area to obtain the most up to date and reliable information available at any given time.
Some flag administrations may require a heightened security level for Fujairah port, meaning that ships need to implement additional protective measures in accordance with the formal Ship Security Plan (SSP).