Unknown Projectiles Hit Gas Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

A British maritime authority reported that a liquefied gas tanker was struck by debris from unknown projectiles while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that all crew members are safe and that the incident did not result in any environmental impact.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that the captain of the tanker reported the vessel was hit by debris from unknown projectiles, while it continued its journey normally to its next port, and the relevant authorities began investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The British authority had previously announced, earlier today, that another ship was struck after experiencing a similar incident while sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz, while a statement from the British maritime authority reported that two crew members were slightly injured, while the ship managed to continue its journey to its next port under its own power.

This new incident comes amid an increase in incidents targeting or affecting commercial vessels in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, as UKMTO reported on September 17 about a security incident that occurred on the Omani side of the strait, about 16 nautical miles northeast of the city of Khasab, without any injuries reported among the crew or environmental impact, while authorities began investigating its circumstances.

On September 18, the authority reported that an oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while crossing the strait, which led to a fire on board before it was able to extinguish it, while it was reported that all crew members were safe and the extent of the environmental impact of the incident was not clear at that time. On the same day, Iran announced that the Revolutionary Guard targeted the oil tanker "Trend" flying the Togolese flag, claiming it was attempting to cross illegally, but the Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify the Iranian account.

The rise in incidents coincided with a continued decline in ship traffic through the strait compared to its usual levels, as navigational data showed that only four ships crossed in a single day on September 16, compared to an average of 18 ships over the previous ten days, noting that some ships may not appear in tracking data if their transponders are turned off, according to Reuters.

With sporadic incidents continuing in recent days, the UKMTO has urged commercial vessels to exercise caution while transiting and to report any suspicious activity, as some ships continue to attempt to use the strait despite the security risks surrounding navigation in it.