A second commercial tanker has been abandoned by its crew within 24 hours after being hit by an unknown projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Incidents involving merchant ships in this key waterway are on the rise.
UKMTO mentioned that it received several reports about a tanker being hit about eight nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman. The vessel's security officer later updated that the crew had evacuated the ship and is now in a lifeboat.
UKMTO stated that "no environmental impact has been reported," and noted that authorities are looking into the incident. They advised vessels passing through the area to be cautious and to report any suspicious activities.
Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, revealed that the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) tanker Kaifan (IMO: 9656046) sent out a distress signal on VHF Channel 16, indicating it was hit by a drone or missile, which caused a fire in its engine room.
This incident occurred less than a day after Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers reported that two of its managed tankers were struck by projectiles while operating off the coast of Oman.
One of the vessels, the Malta-flagged Panamax tanker Kavomaleas, was hit twice, resulting in a fire in its engine room that forced the crew to abandon ship. The second tanker also suffered damage in a separate attack, but its crew stayed on board.
The recent attacks highlight the worsening security situation for commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, especially after the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran collapsed earlier this month.
Since the ceasefire ended, several merchant ships have been attacked as U.S. forces have launched repeated strikes against Iranian military positions, while Iran continues to target commercial vessels in the area.
UKMTO has not disclosed the identity of the vessel involved in the latest incident, nor has it specified the type of projectile that struck the tanker. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.