The Strait of Hormuz and the wider Persian Gulf area have become one of the focal points of the war triggered by the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran and the subsequent response. Iranian drones and missiles have already struck several cargo ships. In the first 36 hours of the conflict at least three tanker vessels – Skylight, Mkd Vyom and Sea La Donna – were reportedly hit by missiles or drones in the area between Khasab, on the Omani side of the strait, and the Gulf of Oman. In one case a tanker flying the flag of Palau was struck by a missile about five nautical miles north of Khasab, causing a fire in the engine room that was later extinguished by the crew, who evacuated without serious consequences.
On 4 March the first incident involving a container ship was recorded. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, a container ship transiting eastbound through the Strait of Hormuz, about two nautical miles from the coast of Oman, was hit by a projectile of unknown origin just above the waterline. The impact caused a fire in the engine room and forced the crew to abandon the vessel. According to Bloomberg, the ship is the Safeen Prestige, a 1,800-TEU vessel flying the Maltese flag and owned by Abu Dhabi-based company Transmar International Shipping. According to some estimates, between 138 and 147 container ships are currently blocked in the area, representing a combined capacity of about 470,000 TEU.
A more serious incident appears to involve a tanker reported by UK Maritime Trade Operations. The vessel was at anchor about 30 nautical miles south-east of the port of Mubarak Al Kabeer in Kuwait, in the northern part of the Gulf. According to the report, the master heard a loud explosion on the port side of the ship and observed a small boat moving away from the area. The explosion caused oil to leak from a cargo tank and water to enter the hull, with a potential environmental impact. No fires were reported and the crew remained safe.
The incidents recorded so far show a geographical spread well beyond the narrowest section of the passage between Iran and Oman. The attacks have affected not only the central corridor of the strait but also the access routes to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, including operational areas near Fujairah, Muscat and Dubai. This geographical dispersion is increasing operational uncertainty for shipowners and for vessels transiting through the region.
