Attacks on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz continue

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be severely disrupted with Iranian attacks on vessels in the area continuing.

UKMTO yesterday issued an update saying that it has received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz (SOH) and Gulf of Oman since Israeli/US attacks on Iran, and resulting retaliatory attacks, began on 28 February. These included 13 attack reports and 4 suspicious activity reports.

In the latest cases, three separate reports dated 11 March detailed:

• an incident 50NM northwest of Dubai, where the Master of a Bulk Carrier reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile;

• an incident 11NM north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, where a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard. The vessel has requested assistance and the crew are evacuating the vessel;

• the Master of a container vessel reporting that the vessel had sustained damage from a suspected but unknown projectile while transiting the Strait.

Earlier, the US military said it had “eliminated” 16 Uranian mine-laying vessels in the region. 

Separately, the 32 members of the International Energy Agency agreed to release 400m barrels of oil reserves, believed to be the largest ever such release, in an effort to calm markets.

Nevertheless, the price of oil rose again as Asian markets opened today, Brent crude surging back to nit the $100 a barrel markr, after reports emerged overnight of at least three more explosions in the area. Two tankers were hit by explosions near the port of Umm Qasr in Basr, Iraq, with at least one seafarer fatality, while UKMTO has also logged today the report of an explosion aboard a containership 35NM north of Jebel Ali.