A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred about 11 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, and took place on Saturday, 1 August, while the tanker was sailing off Oman's Musandam Peninsula.
The UKMTO said it received a report from the vessel's company security officer. The regional coast guard has been informed and authorities are investigating. No casualties or environmental effects were reported. The tanker's name, flag, owner, cargo and the type of munition used were not disclosed in the initial statement.
The incident occurred amid heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz following military confrontation between the US and Iran. It took place at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint.
Distance from the incident site to Lima, Oman.
The vessel's 'not under command' status meant it could not maneuver safely with its own propulsion and steering systems. Targeting the engine room heightened security concerns because it could directly halt the vessel's navigation. A prolonged immobilization of the tanker at the entrance could create new traffic pressure in already narrow safe transit lanes.
The incident occurred amid already low traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday, only four commodity vessels transited the strait, all exiting the Gulf. Two very large crude oil tankers among them were each carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil. On the previous day, only three commodity vessels transited. Vessels sailing with tracking devices switched off were not included in these counts.
According to available data, energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained far below normal levels. Under normal conditions, shipments equivalent to about one-fifth of global oil demand pass through the strait, which connects oil and gas production in Gulf countries to world markets via the Gulf of Oman. Most crude oil loaded in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Iran and Kuwait is transported through this route to Asia and other markets; it is also critical for diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and LNG.
Security risks in the strait affect energy prices, war-risk insurance, tanker charter rates, route times and delivery schedules. In a previous wave of attacks, some insurance companies limited war-risk coverage, and oil transport costs from the Middle East to Asia rose sharply.
No party claimed responsibility for the attack in the initial statement. Military and maritime security units are expected to examine the projectile's trajectory and the nature of the damage. The attack could lead shipowners and charterers to again delay their decisions on transiting the strait. Oil tanker traffic through the strait, which was being reopened, came under renewed pressure from the attack.