The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) is monitoring an investigation into an incident involving the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker New Andros, which was struck by an unidentified device while transiting Iraqi territorial waters on Wednesday, September 9. The impact triggered a fire on board, but all 22 crew members were reported safe and uninjured.
What Happened
According to preliminary reports received by the AMP’s Maritime Protection Office, the tanker was hit by a type of device that has not yet been identified, causing a fire to break out on board. Iraqi rescue boats successfully controlled and extinguished the blaze.
The AMP is following the investigation through its General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DGMM). No casualties or injuries have been reported among the 22 crew members aboard the vessel.
Background
The incident took place amid elevated military tensions in the region, a situation that has generated alerts and reports about risks to commercial navigation in the area. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported other incidents involving several merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman during the same night.
Panama operates one of the world’s largest ship registries, meaning Panamanian-flagged vessels routinely sail through some of the world’s most strategically important—and at times volatile—shipping lanes, including the Middle East’s oil export routes. That exposure places responsibilities on the AMP to track security threats affecting its fleet worldwide.
The AMP continues monitoring the risks faced by Panama-flagged vessels transiting areas of armed conflict, applying relevant protocols under the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
What This Means for Panama
The incident underscores the exposure of Panama’s large merchant fleet to geopolitical risks far from its own waters. With thousands of vessels flying the Panamanian flag, security incidents abroad directly implicate Panamanian maritime authorities in investigations, crew safety coordination, and flag-state responsibilities under international conventions.
The AMP has urged ship operators and masters to follow the flag state’s security recommendations, which are published on the Panama Registry portal at https://panama-registry.com/. Shipowners and operators with vessels in the region will be watching for the outcome of the investigation into what type of device struck the New Andros, as well as any updates to security guidance for Gulf transit routes.
The safe outcome for the crew of the New Andros—no injuries among the 22 seafarers—will come as relief to the authority, but the event highlights the ongoing need for vigilance as regional tensions continue to affect commercial shipping.
This story was originally reported by Nex Panama.