Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is under renewed pressure after a Panama-flagged tanker caught fire off Oman after being hit by an unidentified projectile.
A vessel was hit and a fire broke out on board in the Strait of Hormuz on 12 September, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The incident is the latest in a growing number of attacks and security incidents targeting commercial vessels in and around one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
A Panama-flagged tanker was identified by maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, which said the ship issued a distress call after the attack. The Omani Navy was later reported to be responding to the incident and preparing to evacuate the crew of the tanker.
It was not known if any crew members were killed or injured at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that an Iranian cargo ship was also attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday morning. Those reports said one crew member died and three others were wounded. The claims have not been independently tested.
The latest incident involving the Panama-flagged tanker follows a tense week in the Strait. On 10 September, two vessels were reported stuck around four nautical miles west of Khasab, Oman.
Seven other incidents were reported between 8 and 10 September, highlighting how quickly maritime security is deteriorating in the region.
The initial five incidents, all reported on 8 September, concerned US forces attacking Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. US forces reportedly warned crews aboard LPG tanker Horizon 1 and tankers Derya, Kaviz and Charminar before their vessels were “rendered inoperable”.
The Riesco’s crew had been warned also before the ship was struck and sank.
On 9 September, Iranian retaliation followed. One crew member died, another was injured and a third is missing following a fatal attack on tanker Hercules Star. Another tanker, New Andros, was also attacked, but no injuries were reported in that incident.
The ongoing violence has also forced governments to reconsider the risks faced by seafarers transiting the waterway .
The Philippines will ban the deployment of its nationals on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following recent deaths and injuries of Filipino seafarers on vessels operating in the strait.
A draft advisory from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that would prohibit shipowners and crewing agents from sending Filipino seafarers on ships set to pass through the Strait of Hormuz was reported by Seatrade Maritime News on Friday.
The planned move comes after attacks and military clashes that have continued to disrupt commercial shipping through the strategically important waterway. The move reflects growing concern about the safety of crews navigating the waterway.
