Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continues to face escalating security threats after a second tanker was abandoned by its crew within 24 hours following another attack near the strategic maritime chokepoint.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the latest incident occurred approximately eight nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, where a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile. Following the impact, the vessel’s company security officer confirmed that the crew had abandoned the ship and evacuated safely into a lifeboat.
UKMTO stated that no environmental pollution has been reported so far, while investigations into the incident remain ongoing. The agency has urged all vessels operating in the region to exercise heightened caution and immediately report any suspicious activity.
Security intelligence has identified the vessel as the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) tanker Kaifan (IMO: 9656046). According to Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, the tanker transmitted a distress call over VHF Channel 16, reporting that it had likely been struck by a drone or missile, resulting in a serious engine room fire that forced the crew to abandon the vessel.
The latest attack follows another major incident less than 24 hours earlier involving Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers. Two of the company’s managed tankers were targeted while operating off the coast of Oman.
One vessel, the Malta-flagged Panamax tanker Kavomaleas, was hit twice by projectiles, triggering a fire in its engine room that compelled the entire crew to abandon ship. A second Dynacom-managed tanker was also damaged in a separate strike, although its crew remained onboard and continued managing the situation.
These back-to-back attacks highlight the rapidly deteriorating security environment surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime trade corridors. The increase in attacks follows the collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire earlier this month, which has significantly intensified regional tensions.
Since the ceasefire ended, commercial shipping has increasingly become exposed to security risks as U.S. forces continue military strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran has continued targeting merchant vessels transiting the region. The renewed hostilities have raised serious concerns for shipowners, operators, insurers, and global energy markets due to the Strait’s critical role in transporting a significant share of the world’s crude oil and LNG cargoes.
At present, UKMTO has not officially confirmed the identity of the tanker involved in the latest incident or the exact type of projectile used, and authorities continue to investigate. Fortunately, no injuries or environmental damage have been reported, but the repeated attacks are reinforcing concerns over the safety of commercial navigation through one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints.
With two crew evacuations occurring within a single day, the latest developments underline the growing operational and security challenges facing merchant shipping in the Gulf region and may prompt further risk assessments, routing reviews, and enhanced naval protection measures.