The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, in its latest action, targeted the Togo-flagged tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the ship caught fire due to illegal passage. This attack marks the third incident of attacks on tankers in the past week and reflects Iran's efforts to assert its control over this strategic waterway.
Details of the Attack on the Tanker Trend
The tanker Trend, which has a capacity of 7,119 deadweight tons (dwt), was built in 2008 and has been managed by the United Arab Emirates in recent years. The last recorded position of this vessel was on September 15, near the shores of the UAE. Admiral Ali Ozmaei confirmed this attack and stated that Iran "maintains complete control over the Strait of Hormuz" and any ship that passes without permission will face the risk of destruction.
Read more: Security incident in the waters of Oman with the presence of commercial vessels
Consequences of the Attacks and Navigation Status
Recent reports indicate that the number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has decreased due to these attacks. According to information received from UK Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker was attacked 16 nautical miles northwest of the shores of Oman, and the fire resulting from this attack has been brought under control. Additionally, a delayed report of an attack on a tanker on September 16 has been released, with little detail available.
The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased in recent days, and according to Kpler data, only four vessels passed through this strait on September 17. This situation highlights the challenges in assessing the number of passing ships, especially those navigating "darkly."
In light of these developments, Gulf Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have turned to ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to move oil to waiting vessels in the Sea of Oman. Some reports indicate the identification of a Qatari energy vessel conducting a transfer to another Qatari vessel off the coast of Oman.
Despite the threats and actions from Iran, the international community is deeply concerned about the navigation situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, stated in a side session this week that "we have reached a point where these conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack commercial ships and innocent mariners."
Read more: The impact of the IMO's net zero framework on the future of marine refueling · UK Maritime Trade Operations reports a fire on a tanker
