A tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with a fire reported onboard, according to a new warning issued by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO said it received a third-party report that the incident occurred at about 1750 UTC on October 1. The crew was reported safe, while the scale of any damage and any potential environmental impact remained unclear as investigations continued.
Context: Strait of Hormuz Intelligence File · Strait of Hormuz shipping guide · Strait of Hormuz
The latest incident was reported in UKMTO Warning 147-26 and adds to a series of attacks and disruptions involving tankers in the strategic waterway over recent days. No party was identified by UKMTO as responsible for the strike.
Operational context
On September 29, UKMTO issued three separate warnings covering reported attacks on tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions. The vessels were said to have been hit by unknown projectiles. One tanker returned to its previous port for a damage assessment, while another was reported near Khor Fakkan after sustaining a strike on its port side.
Those reports followed an earlier warning concerning a tanker hit while outbound through the southern part of the strait on September 28. In that case, a small fire was extinguished and the vessel continued toward its next port.
The sequence of warnings has also highlighted delays between incidents occurring and their disclosure through public reporting channels. UKMTO relies substantially on information submitted voluntarily by ships, operators and third parties, meaning its public notices may not represent a complete record of events in the area.
Before the latest warning was issued, the Joint Maritime Information Center said it had recorded four confirmed attacks or disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz during the preceding 96 hours. It maintained its regional threat assessment at SEVERE, citing recent projectile strikes against commercial ships sailing both inbound and outbound.
JMIC said deliberate attacks on commercial shipping remained highly likely under current conditions. The October 1 incident would represent an additional event beyond the four cases included in its earlier assessment.
UKMTO has advised vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and to report suspicious activity while authorities continue to assess the incidents.