About 10 vessels in or around the Strait of Hormuz have been targeted in attacks following Iran’s closure of the vital waterway in response to US-Israeli actions, according to data analysis organizations. These assaults over the past week, starting from the onset of hostilities on February 28, have effectively halted traffic in the strait, a key passage for oil and other commodities. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued approximately 10 alerts regarding attacks and suspicious activities, although specific vessel details have been limited.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) documented a total of nine ship attacks within a week in the strait, with four incidents resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. The casualties included one fatality each in attacks on the Skylight, MKD Vyom, Stena Imperative, and Hercules Star vessels on March 2. Subsequently, between March 3 and 5, additional ships such as the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige, and Sonangol Namibe were targeted. On March 6, four individuals lost their lives in an attack on the Mussafah 2 vessel.
Indonesia reported on Sunday that a ship resembling the Mussafah 2 in terms of characteristics and last known location had sunk two days earlier, with differing casualty figures. The Indonesian authorities stated that three crew members were missing, one crew member was injured, and four survivors from various nationalities were rescued. The strait typically witnesses around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transit, but there has been a 90% decline in tanker traffic within a week, as per Kpler, the company behind the MarineTraffic platform.
Based on data analyzed by AFP from MarineTraffic on Friday, only nine commercial ships, including tankers, cargo vessels, and container ships, were tracked crossing the strait since Monday, with some intermittently concealing their locations. Vanguard, a maritime security company, disclosed that the Mussafah 2 was struck by two missiles while attempting to aid the Safeen Prestige container ship, which had been hit by a missile earlier.
The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), managed by a Western naval coalition, cautioned on Saturday that vessels engaged in rescue or salvage operations for previously targeted ships could face heightened risks of subsequent attacks. The JMIC noted a pattern of strikes targeting anchored vessels, drifting ships, and aid vessels to induce operational uncertainty and deter regular commercial activities rather than a persistent effort to sink ships.
Drone and missile strikes attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are not consistently verified by independent sources, with confirmations sometimes delayed and vessels involved remaining unidentified. Casualty figures may also vary. Iran, a major oil exporter through the Strait of Hormuz, has conveyed conflicting messages regarding its intentions. While a Revolutionary Guards general threatened on March 2 to destroy any vessel crossing the strait and disrupt Gulf oil exports, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Thursday that there were no plans to close the waterway.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright pledged on Friday to provide protection for merchant vessels attempting to navigate the strait at an appropriate time. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday his efforts to establish a coalition to safeguard the crucial sea lanes supporting the global economy in the region.