The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has published four delayed warnings concerning incidents involving vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on September 28 and 29, 2026. The reports, released on September 30, detail a series of attacks involving oil tankers and an LNG vessel, although the extent of the damage remains uncertain.
The first report concerns an incident late on September 28, when a vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile, triggering a fire on board. The fire was subsequently extinguished, and all crew members were reported safe.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has also recorded a confirmed September 28 incident involving the Al Funtas, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) operating in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel sustained damage, but no pollution was reported. Owned and operated by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, the ship was included in the IMO’s list of confirmed attacks in the region.
Notably, despite confirming that the vessel had been struck, UKMTO classified the incident in its initial reporting as suspicious activity rather than an attack.
Three additional incidents reported on September 29
On September 30, UKMTO released three further delayed reports concerning incidents that occurred the previous day, September 29. All three involved tankers struck by unidentified projectiles while navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
The first incident involved a crude oil tanker hit on its port side. Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Mersin Prosperity, a VLCC built in 2008. According to Equasis data, the ship is managed by ADNOC.
The second report concerned a tanker sailing inbound through the Strait of Hormuz that was struck by an unidentified projectile. Vanguard identified the vessel as the Sinbad, a Liberian-flagged tanker managed by Anglo-Eastern.
The third incident involved the Al Ruwais, which Vanguard initially identified as an LNG tanker. However, available vessel information indicates that the ship is more likely a Liberia-flagged LR2 tanker owned and operated by ADNOC. It was also reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile.
All four incidents occurred within the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime corridor for global energy transportation.
One vessel appears on Iran’s non-compliance list
Among the three vessels identified by Vanguard Tech in connection with the September 29 incidents, only the Sinbad appears on Iran’s list of vessels deemed non-compliant with Tehran’s transit regulations.
The list is administered by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which has warned that vessels included on it could face fines, detention or confiscation during future transits of the Strait of Hormuz.
Vanguard Tech said the extent of the damage to the three vessels involved in the September 29 incidents remains unclear.
Unusual reporting pattern amid escalating maritime tensions
The four delayed UKMTO reports represent an unusual sequence of disclosures and come amid heightened tensions in the region. They follow Iranian claims that 19 vessels were attacked on September 25 and 26.
UKMTO operates a voluntary incident-reporting system and serves as a key point of contact for emergency response in the region. Its ability to document maritime security incidents therefore depends on vessels and relevant organisations reporting events.
As a result, incidents that go unreported may limit the organisation’s ability to provide a comprehensive picture of maritime security conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest reports highlight the continuing risks facing commercial shipping in the strategic waterway, where attacks, vessel compliance measures and uncertainty surrounding incident reporting are adding further complexity to maritime operations.
