The number of attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding areas has reached the highest recorded level. From October 5 to 11, 12 vessels were targeted, marking the highest number of attacks reported in a week to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) since the onset of the war between the US and Israel with Iran.
Increase in Attacks and Impact on Oil Transfer
On Sunday, October 11, six vessels were targeted, which is the highest recorded number in a single day. The trend of improving oil transfer from the Strait of Hormuz, which had begun last month, has slowed due to the increase in attacks. Data from the shipping intelligence company Kpler shows that on October 13, approximately 12.6 million barrels of oil were passing through the Strait of Hormuz daily, a figure that was around 15 million barrels per day at the end of September.
Read more: Discovery of New Oil in Gabonese Maritime License by Panoro Energy and BW Energy
Attacks on Ships Further from the Strait of Hormuz
Experts believe that Iran is attacking ships to exert more control over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US military has increased the number of tankers it is escorting through the southern route of the Strait to protect against Iranian attacks. Additionally, Iran has expanded the range of its attacks to ships located further away from the Strait of Hormuz.
The aftermath of one of the six reported attacks on Sunday has been captured in a verified video. This video shows the tanker "Petro Dolphin" flying the flag of Nicaragua on fire. This tanker was targeted by a drone near the port of Sohar in Oman, over 250 kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz.
The Indian Forward Seafarers Union has reported that 11 Indian sailors have been rescued, but two remain missing. Furthermore, the container ship "GFS Pride" sank on Tuesday after being struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, and all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.
With the increase in attacks on ships, the trend of improving oil transfer from the Strait of Hormuz has slowed. Data from the US Navy indicates that the number of vessels that received assistance to transit the Strait of Hormuz in the first 10 days of October has increased by 85% compared to the same period in August.
Read more: Ithaca Energy Seeks New CEO Following Luciano Vasquez's Retirement · Iran Successfully Exports Liquefied Gas and Aviation Fuel to China
