Tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz highest in a week since Iran war began: Report

Attacks on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz last week were reportedly the most frequent of any week since the Iran war began. According to maritime security sources tracking incidents in the area, the surge comes as Gulf producers step up their exports. Reuters reported.

In the week of September 28 to October 5, there were at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the strait, according to data from three maritime security sources, cited by the Reuters news agency. The sources said this was the highest weekly total since the US war with Iran started on 28 February.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN's shipping agency, reported separate data showing nine incidents involving vessels in the same week. Maritime sources say the UN body tends to take longer to verify and officially record incidents. In IMO figures, the closest comparable week was the one beginning 13 July, when eight incidents were logged.

On Sunday, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) said attacks, attempted attacks and harassment activity by Iran's Revolutionary Guards had persisted in the strait. This activity includes drone overflights, surveillance and hailing vessels by VHF radio. "These actions continue to demonstrate Iran's intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels," the JMIC said, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, India's foreign ministry said 12 crew members were injured after an unknown projectile struck the Panama-flagged oil tanker ‘On Peace’ as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, shipping data showed on Monday that Gulf oil exporters exceeded pre-war levels for about half of September. However, attacks on tankers and logistical constraints cloud the outlook for sustained higher flows.