On Wednesday, a projectile hit the engine room of the Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Dominica Prosperity off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. This incident led to the evacuation of all 22 crew members as emergency teams worked to control a fire on board.
This attack was part of a series of four incidents involving tankers documented in the latest maritime security advisory for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which included another strike that injured several sailors.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Dominica Prosperity was hit by an unknown projectile around 1800 UTC on November 11, approximately 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, near Mina Saqr.
The projectile impacted the tanker’s engine room. UKMTO reported that there were no casualties and all crew members were safely evacuated. Firefighting efforts were still in progress when the warning was issued on Thursday.
India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the vessel's identity as the Dominica Prosperity and noted that 19 of the crew members were Indian nationals, rescued by the UAE Coast Guard.
Sonowal mentioned that the tanker was drifting off Mina Saqr when it was attacked.
He stated on X, “All 22 crew members were quickly and safely evacuated by the UAE Coast Guard, and all 19 of our Indian nationals are safe and uninjured.”
Sonowal added that Indian authorities were in touch with the company managing the vessel to provide support to the crew.
According to Reuters, the tanker is operated by South Korea's Sinokor Maritime Co. MARISKS, a maritime risk information provider, reported that the vessel was hit near its stern while leaving the Strait of Hormuz.
The extent of damage to the vessel and any possible environmental impact remain unclear.
Multiple Tanker Attacks Reported
The Dominica Prosperity incident is part of a wave of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
In an advisory update on November 12, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) noted four tanker attacks since the previous report, including two in the Persian Gulf and two in the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the reported incidents involved the tanker Fujairah Energy, which was hit by an unknown projectile while sailing eastbound in the Arabian Gulf on November 10.
UKMTO reported that several crew members were injured and needed medical treatment ashore, but the remaining crew was safe. No information was available about the extent of the damage or potential environmental impacts.
Another tanker, referred to as NCC Fajr in the JMIC advisory, was struck by a projectile while crossing the Strait of Hormuz on November 11. Omani officials reported the attack occurred around 0200 UTC, north of Khasab, Oman.
UKMTO initially noted the incident but later confirmed it as an attack after verification that the vessel had been struck. All crew members were reported safe.
A fourth incident involved an unidentified tanker hit by a projectile on November 10, located about 19 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was safe, and no environmental damage was reported.
The four incidents were documented separately by JMIC, although some were only revealed after they occurred.
Maritime Security Threats Continue
JMIC reported that the latest attacks increased the total number of maritime security incidents recorded since March 1 to 181, highlighting the ongoing threats to commercial vessels in the area.
JMIC attributed these threats to Iranian actions, including attacks and harassment, drone surveillance of merchant vessels, and radio communications directed at ships. However, the specific attackers behind the recent projectile strikes have not yet been identified in the UKMTO warnings.
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be significantly lower than pre-conflict levels.
Data from JMIC suggests there are single-digit to low double-digit vessel transits per day, while figures from the U.S. Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) indicated around 34 U.S.-assisted transits per day during the last 96-hour reporting period. The two sets of data reflect different tracking methods and are not directly comparable.
The advisory also pointed out ongoing congestion at anchorages near the Strait, estimating that about 211 commercial vessels were anchored at key locations east of Hormuz, including Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, and Musandam.
These attacks occur as commercial shipping continues to face risks related to the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which complicates vessel movements through one of the world's busiest oil shipping routes.
UKMTO has urged vessels operating in the region to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity while authorities continue to investigate the latest incidents.