A tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz was attacked with two explosive devices fixed to its hull by a small boat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday, in the latest strike on commercial shipping in the waterway.
UKMTO said the incident happened late on Thursday, about 25 nautical miles north-east of Khasab in Oman, when a small boat approached the tanker on its port side and attached the devices above the waterline.
The blasts that followed started a fire in the vessel’s engine room and temporarily disabled the ship, according to the updated UKMTO advisory. The fire has since been put out, the crew is safe, there has been no environmental damage, and the tanker is continuing to its next port of call.
It is not yet known who carried out the attack, and UKMTO has not named the vessel. The agency advised ships in the area to proceed with caution and report suspicious activity while authorities investigate.
An earlier UKMTO warning had simply reported a vessel on fire while travelling out of the strait, with the cause, the crew’s condition and the extent of the damage unknown at the time. The updated advisory, based on a verified report, confirmed the explosive devices and the crew’s safety.
UKMTO also reported a second incident on Thursday, in which a vessel completing an outward transit of the strait was struck by an unknown projectile. Details of that vessel remain unclear, and the agency has not linked the two incidents.
The attack comes amid repeated strikes on shipping in and around the strait since the conflict between the United States and Iran broke out in February. The waterway carries a large share of the world’s seaborne oil, and any disruption there feeds quickly into energy prices.
Separately, the United States ambassador to Turkiye, Tom Barrack, said diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with Iran were very close to an agreement on a de-escalation process, although further military action remained possible. He said Qatar, Pakistan and other American allies had helped bring the sides closer to a temporary pause in hostilities.
