A fire broke out in the engine room of a tanker travelling out of the Strait of Hormuz after the vessel’s side was hit by a projectile of unknown origin, according to the tanker’s master, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. None of the crew members was injured in the incident.
Investigation into the projectile’s origin and the tanker’s damage
The authority said the extent of the material damage to the vessel was not yet clear, while the potential environmental impact of the incident also remained unknown. The relevant authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack on the tanker and determine the origin of the projectile that struck its side and started the fire in the engine room. The attack comes amid a growing wave of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations had documented several similar incidents in the area since the beginning of October, amid continuing tensions linked to shipping movements through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major flashpoint in the confrontation between Iran and the United States. Before the war broke out, around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait, giving it major importance for global trade and energy supplies.
