The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Norway have formally notified the UN Security Council regarding the sabotage of four oil tankers off the coast of Fujairah on May 12.
The countries' permanent representatives to the UN also condemned the attacks on two Saudi-flagged, one Norwegian-flagged, and one Emirati-flagged vessel and said they posed a threat to international shipping and the environment in joint statement issued on Thursday, the Saudi official news agency SPA reported.
“It is an act of sabotage that affects the safety of international navigation and the security of world oil supplies,” Abdallah Al Mouallimi, the Saudi permanent representative, said.
"While the attacks did not result in any casualties, or spillage of oil or harmful chemicals, they could have caused serious loss of life and an environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Oman," he said.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, said the attacks "come at a time when responsible stakeholders across the region should work together to lower tensions”.
She said the UAE was co-operating closely with Saudi Arabia, Norway, France, and the United States to investigate the incident.
Norway’s permanent representative, Mona Juul, said Norwegian authorities were "in the process of assessing the situation, in close co-operation with among others the Emirati authorities".
“We’re glad the crew on board was unharmed. However, the Norwegian vessel suffered material damages."
The three countries said they also intended to formally notify the International Maritime Organisation of the attacks and the threat they pose to international shipping.
