Another tanker attacked near Hormuz, possibly the first since March 11! Oil prices surge in afternoon trading

The shipping security situation near the Strait of Hormuz has once again become urgent. An unidentified flying object struck a tanker near the waters off Fujairah, UAE, which may be the first confirmed attack on a tanker in the region since March 11.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on the 17th that a tanker anchored in the Gulf of Oman was attacked by an unidentified projectile. Reports indicate minor structural damage, with no injuries. In a statement, the office said the incident occurred 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE (about 42.6 kilometers), with no environmental pollution reported.

Shipping agents stated that Fujairah, a key UAE oil and gas hub, has suspended oil loading. The incident site is adjacent to Fujairah Port — an important alternative export route for the Strait of Hormuz.

According to ZeroHedge citing UKMTO data, since March 11, there has been a significant period without confirmed attacks on oil tankers in the region.

If further confirmed, this attack will mark the end of a relatively calm period, reigniting market concerns over the security of Middle Eastern energy transit routes. Oil prices rose in the afternoon following the news, surging over 5% at one point.

Before March 11: 17 incidents erupt in quick succession

This attack occurred after a series of intense conflicts. CNBC reported that since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has received 17 reports involving ships in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, including 13 attacks and 4 suspicious activities.

On March 11, UKMTO reported that three vessels near the Iranian coast were attacked by suspected flying objects. One ship was hit inside the Strait of Hormuz, 11 nautical miles north of Oman, caught fire, and the crew was forced to evacuate; another was hit about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai; and a third was damaged near the UAE coast. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later confirmed firing upon a Thai container ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with photos showing thick smoke billowing from the vessel.

Risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft’s Middle East chief analyst Torbjorn Soltvedt stated in a March 11 report, “Iran’s rapid and large-scale retaliation against shipping and regional energy, port, and economic infrastructure has severed a vital artery of the global supply chain, causing near halt in the flow of oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas, and chemicals.”

Expansion of Attacks to Production Sites

According to Wall Street Watch earlier, this round of conflict has extended attacks from energy facilities in the Persian Gulf to production sites. UAE’s Shah gas field and Iraq’s Majnoon oil field have been targeted. Analysts note that previous attacks mainly focused on refineries, terminals, and storage tanks; this time, oil and natural gas production facilities are also targeted, indicating an escalation in threats to the energy supply chain.

Fujairah Port, which serves as an alternative export route for the Strait of Hormuz, has also previously been attacked. The recent tanker attack near Fujairah’s waters underscores the security challenges facing this alternative route as well.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas are typically transported. Since the outbreak of conflict, shipping traffic through this waterway has significantly decreased.

The recent tanker attack near Fujairah again highlights that shipping risks in the region remain. Although the direct damages are limited—no crew injuries and minor damages—the symbolic significance is notable: after over six days of relative calm, attacks on oil tankers have reemerged, fueling geopolitical risk premiums in the energy markets.

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