The US Israeli war on Iran has spread to commercial shipping in the Gulf, threatening ports and disrupting trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, reports Reuters.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any vessel passing through the narrow strait will be targeted.
Since the conflict began on 28 February at least 14 ships have been attacked or damaged, while another possible drone strike has also been reported.
The first incidents were reported on 1 March.
Marshall Islands-flagged crude tanker MKD VYOM was hit by a projectile off the Omani coast, about 50 nautical miles north of Muscat, killing one crew member, vessel manager V.Ships said.
On the same day, Gibraltar-flagged oil bunkering tanker Hercules Star was struck by a projectile 17 nautical miles northwest of the UAE’s Mina Saqr in Ras Al Khaimah, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO. A fire caused by the strike was later extinguished.
Also on 1 March the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, two nautical miles north of Oman’s Kumzar, Oman’s maritime security centre said. The crew of the US sanctioned vessel was evacuated.
The next day, US flagged products tanker Stena Imperative was hit by two projectiles in Bahrain port, UKMTO said. The strike caused a fire and forced the crew to evacuate.
On March 3, two more vessels reported damage near the UAE’s port of Fujairah. UKMTO said Marshall Islands crude tanker Libra Trader and Panama-flagged bulker Gold Oak sustained minor damage about 7 to 10 nautical miles offshore.
A day later, Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was damaged by a projectile while sailing towards the northern end of the strait, two nautical miles north of Oman, according to shipping sources. The attack set off a fire in the engine room and prompted the crew to abandon ship.
On March 5, crude tanker Sonangol Namibe was hit by a blast while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, U.S. representative company Sonangol Marine Services said. Two Iraqi port security sources said initial assessments indicated the Bahamas-flagged ship had been targeted by an Iranian remote-controlled boat carrying explosives.
Another attack followed on 6 March when a tugboat conducting operations with Safeen Prestige was hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, six nautical miles north of Oman, UKMTO said.
On March 7, UKMTO reported a possible drone attack 10 nautical miles north of Saudi Arabia’s Jubail, citing an unnamed third party. It said most of the crew had been evacuated.
The latest wave of attacks came on 11 March.
Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by a projectile in the strait, 11 nautical miles north of Oman, its owner, Bangkok-headquartered Precious Shipping, said. A fire broke out on board and the crew evacuated.
Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty was also hit on 11 March sustaining minor damage 25 nautical miles northwest of the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah.
Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth suffered hull damage after being hit by a projectile 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, maritime risk management company Vanguard said. UKMTO said the crew was safe and there had been no environmental impact.
Two fuel tankers were later attacked in the Gulf near Iraq, prompting Iraq’s oil ports to halt operations completely, according to port officials and the state news agency.
The vessels were Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and Maltese-flagged Zefyros. One port security official said the body of a foreign crew member was recovered from the water.
The attacks underline the growing risks to merchant shipping in the Gulf as the war intensifies around one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
