Reports have emerged of three more attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, raising questions about how quickly such incidents are being reported to the public. These details came from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Wednesday.
UKMTO issued three warnings—numbers 144-26, 145-26, and 146-26—related to incidents that happened on September 29 but were not made public until September 30.
All three incidents were classified as attacks and were confirmed by reliable sources.
In the first incident, a crude oil tanker was reportedly hit on its port side by an unidentified projectile.
The second report indicated that another tanker, moving inward through the strait, was also struck by an unknown projectile.
The third report provided minimal details, stating simply that a tanker had been hit.
UKMTO did not name the vessels involved or provide details regarding damage, injuries, or pollution. The timing of each incident was listed as “TBC” (To Be Confirmed).
These reports follow a previous examination by gCaptain that highlighted a gap in information about attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, where some incidents are not disclosed until hours or even days later.
Earlier, UKMTO had warned of a vessel that was hit by a suspected projectile on September 28, which caused a fire. Fortunately, the crew was safe, and the vessel continued its journey.
Unlike the three recent warnings, that earlier incident was initially categorized by UKMTO as “suspicious activity.”
With the latest updates, at least four incidents have now been reported late, indicating that the overall picture of shipping security in the strait is still unclear.
UKMTO operates a voluntary reporting system for merchant vessels in the region. Shipmasters and operators are encouraged to report security incidents, but the effectiveness of the system relies on information being shared by ships, companies, or other authorities.
This issue is increasingly important as conflicting reports arise regarding the number of ships targeted. Iran has claimed its forces have attacked several vessels recently, while public incident reports reveal a smaller number. The latest UKMTO warnings do not specify who launched the projectiles, nor do they validate Iran’s broader claims.
These reports highlight that more incidents are being recorded after they occur, which complicates the already challenging task for shipowners, crew members, and insurers in assessing the security conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.