On October 11, six commercial vessels were hit in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including five tankers and a container ship, as attacks on merchant shipping in the region continue to rise.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued five new warnings about attacks, four of which were reports submitted after the incidents occurred. This added to an earlier report of a tanker attack mentioned in a Sunday Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) advisory.
The reports indicate that five vessels were struck while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and a sixth tanker was attacked near Sohar anchorage, Oman, in the Gulf of Oman.
The latest warnings, numbered 165-26 through 169-26, detail an outbound product tanker, an outbound crude oil tanker, another outbound tanker, and an inbound container ship—all of which were hit by unidentified projectiles while navigating the strait.
UKMTO confirmed that the crew on one of the outbound tankers is safe, but its environmental impact is still unclear. The other reports did not provide any details about injuries or damage levels.
In the fifth incident, a tanker near Sohar anchorage was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). UKMTO initially labeled this as suspicious activity but later upgraded it to an attack. Local authorities helped evacuate the crew, while assessments of the damage and environmental impact are still ongoing.
Another attack reported under UKMTO warning 164-26 involved an outbound tanker that was hit on its port side by an unidentified projectile. JMIC stated that the vessel had damage in its steering gear room and port-side water tank. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, and the tanker was heading to Fujairah anchorage.
The six reported attacks contribute to a growing series of incidents since late September, with vessels being targeted while entering and leaving the Strait of Hormuz, at anchor near the United Arab Emirates, and other locations in the Persian Gulf.
The reports highlight the challenges of fully understanding the scale of these attacks as they occur. Four of the recent incidents were reported after they happened, which means security assessments and official counts may not reflect the latest developments.
These incidents follow a JMIC advisory released on Sunday that kept the security threat in the Strait of Hormuz at a SEVERE level, its second-highest rating, warning that further deliberate attacks on merchant shipping are very likely.
According to this assessment, JMIC recorded three confirmed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz during the previous 72 hours, including an earlier incident that was reported late. The four additional late reports add to an already troubling security situation.
JMIC also indicated that attacks are spreading beyond the main transit lanes of the strait, with vessels being targeted at anchorages and within the Persian Gulf.
This escalation occurs as the United States works to maintain commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing attacks.
JMIC's data from the U.S. Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) indicated around 29 vessels transiting daily over the previous 72 hours, compared to a historical average of about 138 daily transits. However, independent tracking data showed significantly fewer vessels passing through the strait.
The discrepancy in numbers highlights the ongoing gap between U.S.-reported transit activity and what is observed independently.
The latest attacks also happen as the U.S. continues naval blockade operations against Iranian shipping. On October 10, U.S. forces disabled the bulk carrier Ocean Molica in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly tried to evade the blockade, according to U.S. Central Command.
This military action is separate from the six reported attacks on October 11.
For commercial operators, these ongoing strikes pose a significant challenge to achieving any sustained recovery in traffic through the strait, regardless of whether navigational channels are clear or U.S. forces can assist with individual passages.
The recent reports also underscore the ongoing risks faced by civilian crews as ships try to enter and exit the Persian Gulf.
UKMTO has advised vessels to navigate with caution and report any suspicious activity while authorities investigate these incidents.