Tanker struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz

Investing.com -- A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.

UKMTO issued Warning 147-26 after receiving a third-party report that the vessel was struck at approximately 1750 UTC on Oct. 1. The impact caused a fire onboard. The crew was reported safe, while the extent of damage and any environmental impact remained unknown.

The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks in the strategic waterway over recent days. On Wednesday, UKMTO issued three separate warnings covering tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on Sept. 29. Those reports indicated that tankers traveling both inbound and outbound were struck by unknown projectiles. One vessel returned to its previous port for damage assessment, while another was reported near Khor Fakkan after being hit on its port side.

Those disclosures followed Warning 143-26, involving another tanker struck while outbound through the southern portion of the strait on Sept. 28. A small fire was extinguished and the vessel continued toward its next port.

The Joint Maritime Information Center issued an assessment earlier Thursday, before Warning 147-26, which counted four confirmed attacks or disruptions in the Strait over the previous 96 hours. JMIC maintained the regional threat level at SEVERE and warned that deliberate attacks on commercial shipping remained highly likely under current conditions.

No party was identified by UKMTO as responsible for Thursday's strike. UKMTO advised vessels to transit with caution and report suspicious activity as authorities investigate.

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