Two tankers linked to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were hit by drones as they were sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz. This occurred just one day after news broke that ADNOC was expanding its shuttle operation to transport Iraqi oil through this crucial waterway.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued two separate warnings on Friday after military authorities reported that drones had struck the tankers during their outbound transit of the Strait.
Both vessels received minor damage, but their crews were reported safe. Fortunately, there was no environmental incident.
ADNOC confirmed on Thursday evening that two of its tankers had been attacked, stating that they had managed to control the situations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) blamed Iran for these strikes, which represent the latest in a series of assaults on ADNOC-related shipping within a week.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iranian attack on the ADNOC-linked vessels, calling it hostile and aggressive. They described the targeting of commercial shipping and the use of the Strait for economic pressure or blackmail as “acts of piracy” carried out by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. The ministry urged Tehran to stop the attacks and ensure the “complete and unconditional reopening” of the waterway.
The timing of the attack is significant. On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that ADNOC's trading arm was offering to transport Iraqi oil exports through Hormuz. This strategy has assisted the UAE in moving its crude oil despite major disruptions to regular shipping operations.
Under this arrangement, vessels make short trips through the Strait, sometimes turning off their AIS transponders, and then transfer their cargo to other ships outside the Gulf. ADNOC has also been selling spot cargoes to Asian refiners using this method to transport crude from various Middle Eastern countries, particularly Iraq.
Iraq's state oil marketer, SOMO, has confirmed that ADNOC is one of the companies purchasing Iraqi crude and shipping it through the Strait.
Currently, there is no evidence that the two attacked vessels were carrying Iraqi crude, nor that the drone strikes were related to ADNOC’s expanded shuttle operation. However, these attacks highlight the dangers facing an operation that is becoming increasingly vital for maintaining oil flow in the Gulf, especially as standard commercial shipping remains notably restricted.
UKMTO's assessment from August 14 shows how abnormal shipping conditions still are. Over the past week, they recorded only 75 outbound and 76 inbound full transits, with both directions reaching just 17% of the average before the conflict.
Tankers represented the largest portion of vessels making these passages. UKMTO noted that operators are increasingly choosing the northern route, which is under Iranian control, due to projectile attacks, ongoing security worries, and intensified enforcement actions.
The southern route, coordinated by the U.S. through Omani waters, has become particularly dangerous. UKMTO indicated that this route was involved in 16 out of 18 projectile-strike incidents reported since July 6, prompting several vessels to cancel their planned transit or shift to the north after attacks.
These latest strikes further strain an already fragile oil flow through the Strait.
Before the conflict began, more than 130 ships typically passed through Hormuz daily.
These two drone strikes also mark another setback for ADNOC, which has been one of the most proactive operators striving to maintain Gulf oil exports despite challenges. Last week, the company stated that attacks on its vessels were significantly impacting its operations, although it affirmed its commitment to meeting customer demands.