There are frequent attacks in the waters around the Strait of Hormuz. The picture shows the Thai-flagged bulk carrier "Mayuree Naree" being attacked by Iran while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz in March. (European News Agency file photo)
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the global crude oil transportation artery, has heated up rapidly. According to "Reuters" citing Iranian official media reports, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed on the evening of the 10th that a "supertanker" with a capacity of carrying two million barrels of crude oil triggered a mine and triggered a violent explosion and fire when it turned off its onboard navigation and positioning system and tried to leave the strait through an unauthorized channel. Black smoke and fire were clearly visible on the coastal land.
"Reuters" reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards stated in a statement that the oil tanker deliberately turned off the automatic identification system (AIS) and satellite positioning equipment before attempting to cross the strategic waterway, and ventured into an unauthorized route that has been designated as a high-risk route. It eventually caused a violent fire after a mine explosion.
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In the first wave of announcements, the Iranian military did not announce the specific name, registration and number of casualties of the oil tanker. It only emphasized that it was a very large oil tanker with a carrying capacity of two million barrels. The Iranian military also issued a strong warning, declaring that "any ship that ignores the rules of the Strait of Hormuz will end up in a horrific fire."
Several merchant ships were attacked in succession and shipping was blocked.
Hours after the mine detonation, another attack was reported around the Persian Gulf. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) issued an emergency safety advisory in the early morning of the 11th. An outbound oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile on the port side while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. Fortunately, all crew members reported that they were safe. The extent of the fire damage and environmental impact are still under investigation and assessment. The British Navy then issued an emergency radio broadcast to all merchant ships passing through the sea area to increase alert.
As conflicts in the Taiwan Strait heat up, regional military confrontations simultaneously intensify. The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently carried out precision strikes against ships that violated the blockade and were suspected of supporting military operations. Maritime safety agencies pointed out that since this month alone, more than ten merchant ships or oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters have reported being attacked by drones, rockets or mines. Ships in many offshore anchorages of the United Arab Emirates have even received radio emergency broadcasts, requiring immediate evacuation of their berths.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20% of the world’s seaborne crude oil flow. With the outbreak of supertanker mine fires and successive attacks, war risk insurance rates in the international shipping market are expected to face a new round of violent shocks, and the risk of interruption in the crude oil supply chain has once again raised the global energy market's high alert.
