Tanker Ablaze Off UAE as More Attacks Rattle Gulf Shipping

A projectile struck the engine room of the Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Dominica Prosperity off the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of all 22 crew members as emergency crews battled a fire aboard the vessel.

The attack was one of four tanker incidents documented in the latest maritime security advisory covering the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, including a separate strike that left multiple seafarers injured.

According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Dominica Prosperity was struck by an unidentified projectile at approximately 1800 UTC on November 11, about 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, near Mina Saqr.

The projectile struck the tanker’s engine room. UKMTO said no casualties were reported and all crew members were safely evacuated. Firefighting operations were still underway when the warning was issued Thursday.

India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, identified the vessel as the Dominica Prosperity and confirmed that 19 Indian nationals were among the 22 crew members rescued by the UAE Coast Guard.

Sonowal said the tanker had been drifting off Mina Saqr when it was targeted.

“The entire 22-member crew was swiftly and safely evacuated by the UAE Coast Guard and all 19 of our Indian nationals are completely safe with no injuries,” Sonowal wrote on X.

He added that Indian authorities remained in contact with the vessel’s management company to coordinate support for the crew.

Reuters reported that the tanker is operated by South Korea’s Sinokor Maritime Co., citing maritime risk information provider MARISKS. Maritime security company Ambrey said the vessel was struck near its stern as it exited the Strait of Hormuz.

The extent of the vessel’s damage and any potential environmental impact is unknown.

Multiple Tankers Struck in Separate Attacks

The Dominica Prosperity incident comes amid a series of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

In its November 12 advisory update, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) documented four tanker attacks since its previous report, including two in the Persian Gulf and two in the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the incidents involved the tanker Fujairah Energy, which was struck by an unknown projectile while traveling eastbound in the Arabian Gulf on November 10.

UKMTO said multiple crew members were injured and taken ashore for medical treatment. The remaining crew were reported safe and accounted for. No damage assessment or information about possible environmental impacts was immediately available.

Another tanker, identified in the JMIC advisory as NCC Fajr, was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on November 11. Omani authorities reported the attack at approximately 0200 UTC north of Khasab, Oman.

UKMTO initially reported the incident without confirming a strike but subsequently reclassified it as an attack after receiving confirmation that the vessel had been hit. All crew members were reported safe.

The fourth incident involved an unidentified tanker struck by an unknown projectile on November 10, approximately 19 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was reported safe, with no environmental damage reported.

The four incidents were separately documented by JMIC, although several were disclosed only after the attacks occurred.

Maritime Security Threat Remains Severe

JMIC said the latest attacks bring the number of recorded maritime security incidents since March 1 to 181, underscoring the continuing dangers facing commercial vessels operating in the region.

JMIC attributed the continuing threat to Iranian attacks and harassment, including drone overflights, surveillance of merchant vessels and radio communications directed at ships. However, the perpetrators of the four latest projectile attacks have not been individually established in the UKMTO warnings.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below pre-conflict levels.

According to JMIC, independent tracking data showed single-digit to low-double-digit vessel transits per day, while U.S. Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) figures indicated approximately 34 U.S.-assisted transits per day over the latest 96-hour reporting period. The two figures reflect different reporting methods and should not be treated as directly comparable measures of total traffic.

The advisory also pointed to persistent congestion at anchorages near the Strait. JMIC estimated approximately 211 commercial vessels were stationary at major anchorages east of Hormuz, including Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar and Musandam.

The attacks come as commercial shipping continues to navigate the dangers posed by the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with both military operations and maritime security threats complicating vessel movements through one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.

UKMTO has advised vessels operating in the region to exercise caution and report suspicious activity while authorities investigate the latest incidents.

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