Tankers targeted in twin incidents near Strait of Hormuz off Oman
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one in which a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.
In the first incident, a tanker was hit about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Lima. The vessel reported it was “struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage to the engine room” and leaving it not under command, the UKTMO said. There were no reported casualties nor environmental impact.
Later, UKMTO said it had received a second report of an incident 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab. The master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion close to the vessel, though no damage was reported.
Lima and Khasab are on Oman’s Musandam Peninsula at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping chokepoint through which about a fifth of global oil consumption passes.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced heightened risks in recent weeks, with vessels reporting security incidents and some shipowners adopting additional precautions as Iran and the United States stepped up hostilities.