A commercial tanker passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was struck by two explosive devices attached to its hull by a small boat, triggering an engine-room fire and temporarily disabling the vessel, according to an updated maritime security report issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Friday, October 30.
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 29, approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, while the tanker was travelling outbound through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the information released by UKMTO, the tanker was approached on its port side by a small boat. The occupants of the boat attached two explosive devices to the vessel’s hull above the waterline before leaving the area.
The devices subsequently detonated, causing explosions that triggered a fire inside the tanker’s engine room. The incident temporarily disabled the vessel and raised immediate concerns about the safety of the crew and the possibility of further damage.
The maritime security agency initially received information about a tanker fire in the area. At that stage, the cause of the incident, the condition of the crew and the extent of the damage had not been established.
However, a subsequent verified update provided a clearer picture of what had happened.
UKMTO confirmed that all crew members were safe and that no environmental impact had been reported. The fire was also confirmed to have been extinguished, allowing the tanker to continue towards its next port of call.
The vessel’s name, flag, cargo details and ownership were not identified in the information available at the time of publication.
The identity of the attackers and the organisation responsible for the incident also remained unconfirmed.
The latest attack is significant because it involved explosive devices being physically attached to a commercial vessel by a small boat, rather than an attack involving only a projectile or an aerial weapon. It highlights the range of threats that commercial shipping can face while navigating sensitive maritime corridors.
