Hormuz transit faces fresh risk after vessel attack

A cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman yesterday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

IMAGE: Getty Images

The incident has renewed market concerns regarding regional stability, dampening the optimism that followed the recent 60-day US-Iran peace accord, which had successfully reopened the Strait to commercial shipping.

The UKMTO reported that the attack, which occurred about 7.5 nautical miles (nm) southeast of Dahit, Oman, caused structural damage to the vessel’s bridge. The attacked vessel was the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, the BBC reported, citing maritime risk management firm Vanguard.

The attack occurred shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued a warning to commercial vessels, cautioning them against using unauthorised routes through the region.

Earlier this week, Oman – in coordination with the US and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – announced a temporary maritime corridor, intended to safeguard freedom of navigation through the critical chokepoint.

However, the IRGC rejected the corridor as an "unacceptable" and "extremely dangerous" development as it was established without their coordination.

Following these warnings, at least four tankers – Blue Start I, SG Pegasus, Azumasan, and Omega Trader – retreated from the IMO-declared corridor, according to Financial Times (FT).

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that Iran is actively pursuing a toll for “security” and “environmental services” within the Strait. Tehran estimates that such charges could generate approximately $40 billion in annual revenue.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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