The tanker LOUISE 1 was passing through the Strait of Hormuz on October 29, 2023, when it was attacked by a small boat with two sticky mines. This incident led to a fire in the engine room and a temporary shutdown of the vessel.
Details of the Attack and Its Impacts
According to confirmed reports, the attack occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, while the tanker was transiting the strait. The sticky mines were attached to the hull of the ship above the waterline, and the resulting explosions caused a fire in the engine room. However, fortunately, all crew members of the tanker were safe, and the fire was quickly extinguished.
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This attack is considered a significant escalation in the existing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and introduces a new threat to commercial shipping, which is currently facing frequent missile and drone attacks. Maritime security officials described these types of weapons as sticky mines that are directly attached to the hull of a ship.
Security and Commercial Implications
This incident marks the first successful use of this tactic against commercial shipping since the onset of the war in February. Martin Kelly, head of the EOS Risk advisory group, described this incident as another phase in Iran's developing campaign against commercial shipping. Kelly also recalled past Iranian attacks with sticky mines, the last of which occurred in May 2019 against four vessels near Fujairah, as well as subsequent attacks on the tankers KOKUKA COURAGEOUS and FRONT ALTAIR.
This attack adds new dimensions to the existing threats for vessels transiting the strait. Kelly warned that there may be more serious risks for ships waiting at anchor, as mines can be placed below the waterline without detection by the crew.
Additionally, other maritime attacks have been reported in the Strait of Hormuz. In one of these cases, another tanker was struck by an unspecified projectile while passing through the strait, but no damage to the crew or the environment was reported. Also, a dhow near Khasab caught fire and sank, but all its crew were safely rescued.
These incidents occur as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has announced that three tankers attempting to transit unauthorized routes have caught fire and exploded. However, these claims have not been verified by independent sources.
Moreover, the United States continues to coordinate the movement of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly along a southern route aimed at maintaining commercial traffic despite Iranian threats. This route has increasingly come under attack, and according to UKMTO reports, 59 of the 81 recorded attacks since July 6 have occurred along this route.
Despite ongoing threats, commercial traffic is gradually improving. UKMTO reports indicate that the number of outbound and inbound transits increased in the past week. However, overall traffic remains about 70 percent lower than pre-conflict levels.
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