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Record Attacks Trap 6,000 Sailors in Strait of Hormuz

Updated 12:19 AM ET · 2:17 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Record attacks on ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz have trapped 6,000 sailors, with oil shipments slowing.

The number of ships attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz has hit a record high, according to BBC Verify analysis of data from a UK maritime agency. Twelve vessels were attacked between 5 and 11 October, the largest number of weekly strikes reported since the US-Israeli war with Iran began.

A Singapore-flagged container ship has sunk after being struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Singaporean authorities. Video posted on social media showed containers floating off the coast of Oman's Musandam peninsula.

The vessel was struck by a drone close to the Sohar Anchorage, Oman, more than 250km (150 miles) from the strait, according to the maritime intelligence firm Vanguard. Another tanker was struck by multiple projectiles north of Qatar on Thursday, more than 500km (310 miles) from the strait, resulting in multiple reported casualties.

Before the United States-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, the strait typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day, and shipments through it accounted for about 20 percent of global crude and liquefied natural gas supplies.

One seafarer was killed when the Cape Dao's bridge and accommodation area were hit by an unknown projectile as it transited through the Strait of Hormuz, north-east of Khasab, Oman, on 23 September.

The number of vessels assisted through the Strait of Hormuz during the first 10 days of October rose 85 percent compared with the same period in August, according to US Navy data.

Daily oil shipments through the strategic waterway fell to 12.6 million barrels on Oct. 13, raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies. This is below the 15 million barrels reported at the end of September.

Iran has offered the United States a deal under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within seven days if certain conditions are met, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

However, a US official told the BBC that Washington was “in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz” and was therefore “not in a rush.” The MOU signed by Iran and the US on June 18 was intended to establish a ceasefire and facilitate the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level over the past week since the start of US military action against the country, Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia has stepped up use of its Red Sea outlet to reduce reliance on Hormuz, with satellite imagery from September 27 showing almost 10 million barrels being loaded across Yanbu and the nearby Al Muajjiz terminal.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Offers Another 17 Million SPR Barrels as Fuel Crisis Deepens What I Cover Tsvetana Paraskova is an energy and commodities journalist who has contributed to Oilprice.com for nearly a decade, covering global energy markets, commodities,… Three oil tankers have been hit by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz this week, shipping intelligence and security companies say.

What's still developing

• It said the vessel was carrying "2,500 containers of contraband" and had taken an "unauthorised route".
• The warning also came amid reports that 24 ships had been attacked on the waterway over roughly two weeks, underscoring growing concerns about maritime safety in the region, according to Financial Times.
• "And we have seen this in several parts of the world where Channel 16, that should not be used for this kind of communication, starts receiving messages that may be perceived as actually threatening or that are outside the remit of why it was created."
• Container shipping is facing an escalating threat in the Strait of Hormuz, which can impact shippers far from the region.
• FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live.
• “The kingdom stresses the importance of guaranteeing the protection of freedom of navigation in all international waterways, foremost among them the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden,” he said.
• Navigation in the Hormuz Strait remains unsafe amid U.S-Iran war (Photo: Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA/via WANA) An oil tanker caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Oct. 1.
• Initial reports of the maritime incident were transmitted by a third party at approximately 5:50 p.m.
• In particular, India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that 12 crew members were injured in an attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker On Peace as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
• A tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz Sunday, a British maritime agency said, hours after Tehran warned there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict and the key waterway would remain closed until its conditions were met.
• "If our enemies again choose the path of military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before, and we will defend ourselves with even more force," Araghchi said at a gathering of foreign ambassadors.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday during an unannounced visit, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told Axios Iran escalating attacks on Hormuz shipping to pressure Trump before midterms; officials say Tehran expects less sensitivity to oil prices afterward - report Iran is stepping up attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz ahead of the November 3 midterms, expecting President Donald Trump to be less sensitive to high energy prices after the midterms.

Sources

• BBClink
• Fox Newslink
• FreightWaveslink
• Oilpricelink
• Timesofisraellink
• Al Jazeeralink
• BBClink
• Englishlink
• Englishlink
• Thevibeslink
• Splash247link
• Newsukrainelink
• Dailysabahlink
• I24Newslink
• WarpBeat — background on US and Iran Clash Over Strait of Hormuz Control Amid Attacks link
• WarpBeat — background on Record Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz Trap Thousands link
• chastity ky — video link