A fresh security scare has unsettled commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while travelling near Oman's Khasab, in a US-designated "safety lane." The incident, reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Sunday, adds to a series of recent maritime incidents in the strategically important waterway as tensions continue to threaten normal shipping activity.
The vessel was travelling inbound through the strait when the projectile hit it around 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) north of Khasab. UKMTO said it received a delayed report of the incident on Saturday and confirmed that authorities were investigating. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, though the tanker was disabled.
According to the UKMTO warning, the tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile whilst transiting inbound in the Strait of Hormuz.” The agency cited military authorities as its source but did not identify the projectile or say who may have launched it.
The incident occurred close to Khasab, an Omani port located near the strategic entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity. The agency has not released the tanker’s name, flag or cargo details in its warning.
Investigators are now working to establish what struck the vessel and whether the incident was connected to the wider security tensions surrounding the waterway.
Recent incidents have also involved commercial vessels near Oman. Earlier this week, another tanker was struck by an unknown projectile near Khasab, with a fire later extinguished, and its crew reported safe.
The latest incident comes as shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels. Reuters reported that only 10 visible commodity-vessel transits were recorded on August 26, compared with more than 130 daily crossings before the conflict.
The waterway remains critical to global energy markets because it connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and provides a major route for oil and gas shipments.
Any prolonged disruption can therefore affect shipping costs, insurance premiums and global energy prices.
The latest strike follows several other reports involving commercial vessels around the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier incidents included tankers being hit by unidentified projectiles, while one bulk carrier incident in early August resulted in a crew member being reported missing.
Authorities have generally avoided assigning responsibility for the attacks until investigations produce more evidence. That uncertainty has added to the risks for shipping companies operating in the region.
The incidents have also occurred against the backdrop of continuing US-Iran tensions and disagreements over control and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has separately been setting conditions for the reopening of the waterway and has been negotiating with Oman over shipping arrangements
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