Norway, the United States and France will participate in the investigation of the sabotage attack against four oil tankers off the coast of the Emirates, a country official said.
According to the official, who will remain anonymous, the three countries will assist the Emirates and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to find out how the four oil tankers were damaged in their hulls and who was behind the sabotage.
The Norwegian-registered oil tanker Andrea Victory, the two Saudi oil tankers Al Marzoqah and Amjad, as well as the tanker A. Michel registered in the emirate Sharjah were all subjected to sabotage on Sunday, apparently by explosive charges.
Andrea Victory is 14 years old and at just over 47,000 dead weight tons, and pictures of the ship show a hole in the stern.
The four oil tanks were off the coast of the port city of Fujairah in the Emirates when the sabotage took place.
Assistance
It is not known whether Norwegian investigators have traveled, or are going to travel to the Emirates, or whether Norway is otherwise assisting.
The Norwegian shipping company Thome Ship Management, which owns Andrea Victory, announced on Monday that they have offered to assist local authorities in the investigation of the incident.
None of the four tankers are in danger of sinking, nor is there any reported injury among the crew or danger of discharge or leaks.
Accuse Iran
Neither Thome Ship Management, Saudi Arabia nor the Emirates have suggested how the sabotage took place, but anonymous US officials are accusing Iran or someone operating on the behalf of Iran whom they support.
Iran denies that the country has anything to do with the events and has demanded an independent investigation.
“We have previously predicted that such a thing would happen in an attempt to create tensions in the region,” said Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Tuesday.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
