Two very large crude carriers transporting Saudi oil were reportedly struck by unknown projectiles minutes apart while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday, according to information from Marisks and Kpler.
Kpler data indicated that each tanker had loaded 2 million barrels of Saudi crude at the Juaymah Terminal during the previous week. The reported incidents occurred as restrictions in the Strait continued to limit energy exports from the Gulf.
Context: Strait of Hormuz shipping guide
Marisks said the Saudi-flagged VLCC Sidr was hit at approximately 1952 UTC while about 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. A few minutes later, the Liberian-flagged Senegal Prosperity was reportedly struck by three unknown projectiles around 17 nautical miles east of Khasab.
Related context: earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage
Operational context
All crew members aboard Senegal Prosperity were reported safe. The source provided no information about casualties or damage aboard Sidr.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported that three projectiles had hit a tanker in the same area shortly before the vessel exited the Strait of Hormuz. The available information did not establish responsibility for either incident.
Marisks described the near-simultaneous strikes as a further escalation of the threat environment in the Omani Corridor. Bahri and Sinokor did not respond to requests for comment, according to the report.
The incidents took place against a backdrop of severe disruption to Gulf energy shipments. The source said the Strait had been blockaded by Iran and the United States as both sides sought to assert control. Mediation efforts involving Qatar and Oman had not produced an agreement to reopen the waterway.
Before US strikes against Iran more than six months earlier, the Strait handled at least one-fifth of global oil supply, according to the report. Oil prices rose on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump threatened further strikes against Iran following the first reported firefights since late July.
Separately, Iranian media reported on Tuesday morning that a Saudi oil tanker had been arrested while transiting the southern corridor of the Strait. The source did not clarify whether that report was connected to either Sidr or Senegal Prosperity.