Strait of Hormuz Incidents Prompt Inquiry Into Tanker Impacts

Two tankers were hit by an unknown projectile or debris while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, September 21, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Two crew members were slightly injured in the first incident. Both ships were able to continue to their next ports.

In the first incident, military authorities told UKMTO that a tanker travelling into the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unknown projectile.

Two crew members suffered minor injuries. The ship was still able to move under its own power and continued towards its next port.

There was no reported environmental impact, UKMTO said. Authorities are investigating.

British security firm Vanguard Tech said the UK-flagged tanker La Stephanie was hit by a drone while travelling towards the Gulf. It also reported minor injuries to two crew members.

UKMTO did not say who fired the projectile.

Later on Monday, UKMTO reported a second incident involving an LPG tanker travelling out of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship’s master said the tanker was hit by debris from unknown projectiles.

All crew members were safe. There was no reported environmental impact. The tanker was also continuing to its next port. Authorities are investigating this incident as well.

The latest incidents follow a series of attacks reported in the Strait of Hormuz between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, according to a Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) advisory issued on Sunday.

One of those attacks involved a tanker that was hit by a projectile. It went through the ship’s hull and started a fire.

Based on the incidents reported by UKMTO and JMIC, at least five attacks or security incidents involving tankers have been reported in the Strait of Hormuz since Sept. 16.

JMIC continues to rate the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz as SEVERE. It said deliberate hostile action was considered “highly likely” under current conditions.

The centre said attacks, attempted attacks and harassment by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had continued.

It said these included unmanned aerial vehicle overflights, surveillance of merchant ships and VHF radio hailing.

Kpler data showed 17 commodity vessels were seen passing through the strait over the weekend.

That was down from 37 vessels a week earlier. Before the war, about 125 vessels were seen passing through the strait each day.

The figures do not include ships travelling with their AIS transponders switched off.

JMIC has also reported different traffic figures from different tracking systems.

Independent tracking showed single-digit numbers of vessels passing in both directions on some days.

U.S. Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping data showed an average of more than 30 vessels a day during the 72 hours before Sunday.

References: UKMTO, France 24