Japanese Oil Tanker Attacked Near Yemen

A Japanese oil tanker was attacked near Yemen causing oil prices to spike up to $117.40.  Nigerian militants are also reporting an attack on pipelines.

The Takayama, a 150,000 ton tanker, was struck by a rocket 270 miles off the east coat of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.  The tanker was on its way to Saudi Arabia, according to the Japanese operator, Nippon Yusen KK.

None of the 23 crew members on the ship were injured although the tanker lost hundreds of gallons of fuel before crew members were able to repair a one inch hole in the ship’s stern.

A report from the Kyodo News states that the tanker was fired at by a rocket launder on a small boat.

In Nigeria, militant groups announced two additional attacks on oil pipelines.  Oil prices rose to nearly $117 on Friday following the attack on the Royal Dutch Shell PLC pipeline by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

A pipeline leak was confirmed to have been caused by explosives by Shell.  The line has been isolated for repairs, shutting down a small amount of production.

During a visit to an oil and gas exhibition in Tehran on Friday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  stated that oil prices were too low, claiming that oil must “discover its real value.”