SINGAPORE, Sept 1 (Reuters) – Two supertankers carrying Saudi oil were hit by unknown projectiles within minutes of each other while leaving through the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday, according to shipping intelligence and tracking firms Marisks and Kpler.
Marisks noted that “the near-simultaneous incidents represent a further escalation in the threat environment within the Omani corridor.”
The tankers had each loaded 2 million barrels of Saudi crude at the Juaymah terminal last week, as reported by Kpler data. Saudi Aramco resumed oil loadings and sales in the strait in August.
Both Iranian and U.S. blockades in the Strait of Hormuz have significantly reduced energy exports from the Gulf, with each side trying to assert control over the crucial waterway.
Mediators, including Qatar and Oman, have attempted to negotiate a deal to reopen the strait, which used to carry about a fifth of the world's oil supply before recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted the situation.
Oil prices saw an increase on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened more strikes against Iran, following the first exchanges of fire since late July.
In the latest shipping attacks, the Saudi-flagged very large crude carrier Sidr was hit by projectiles around 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman at approximately 1952 UTC (GMT), according to Marisks.
Minutes later, the Liberian-flagged VLCC Senegal Prosperity was reportedly struck by three projectiles about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab as well. Fortunately, all crew members onboard were reported safe.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported three projectiles hitting a tanker in the same area as it sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz, likely indicating the same incident.
Bahri, the operator of Sidr, and Sinokor, the operator of Senegal Prosperity, did not immediately respond to inquiries for comments.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that a Saudi oil tanker was halted while passing through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz.