Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 31, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Another tanker has been struck in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the number of vessels reported hit in the strategic waterway since Sunday to at least six.
UK Maritime Trade Operations said Friday that the master of a tanker reported being struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the strait at 1122 UTC.
The impact caused a small fire and a blackout onboard. The fire was extinguished and the tanker was able to continue underway, UKMTO said. No casualties or environmental impact were reported.
Authorities are investigating the incident, designated UKMTO Warning 148-26. UKMTO has not identified the tanker or said who may have been responsible for the attack.
The latest strike adds to a growing tally of attacks around the Strait of Hormuz over the past several days.
On Thursday, UKMTO reported another tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the strait, causing a fire. The crew was reported safe, although the extent of damage and any environmental impact were not immediately known.
That followed four vessel strikes from Sunday and Monday that only emerged through delayed reporting.
UKMTO initially disclosed a Sunday evening incident involving a vessel struck by a suspected projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished. The vessel remained underway and its crew was safe. UKMTO classified that case as “suspicious activity.”
Three more tanker attacks from Monday surfaced on Wednesday through separate time-late UKMTO warnings. In each case, the vessel was reported struck by an unknown projectile. The agency provided little information on damage or casualties. gCaptain reported Wednesday that the delayed disclosures were adding to uncertainty over how quickly incidents in the strait were reaching the public record.
Combined with the attacks reported Thursday and Friday, the notices bring the tally to at least six vessels struck since Sunday, September 28.
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The tanker captain summoned his years of experience when he saw the blast in front of him. He veered his 300-meter-long ship around the vessel ahead and could see a fire had started. He called the US Navy to tell them of the attack.
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