Tanker hit by explosives planted from boat in Hormuz

A small boat pulled up beside a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz late on Thursday, October 29, and attached two explosive devices to its hull. The blasts started a fire in the engine room and briefly disabled the ship, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The agency said the crew were safe, the fire had been put out, there was no environmental damage, and the vessel was continuing to its next port of call. Reuters reported that it was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.english.aawsat.com

What UKMTO reported

The attack happened at about 2212 UTC, roughly 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, as the tanker was heading out of the strait, The Tribune reported. In its update, UKMTO said the tanker "was approached on the port side by a small boat which attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline." UKMTO first reported only that an outbound tanker was on fire from an unknown cause. It later told ships in the area to transit with caution and report suspicious activity while authorities investigate, according to Siasat. DPA reported that the ship was briefly unable to manoeuvre.dpa-international.com+2

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech named the ship as the Panama-flagged Louise 1, a 159,092-deadweight-ton tanker, Seatrade Maritime reported. Security analyst Babak Taghvaee said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy special forces carried out the attack, according to The Maritime Executive. That claim has not been officially confirmed.seatrade-maritime.com+1

A new tactic

Seatrade Maritime said the attack marks a change in method. Until now, attacks in the strait had mostly involved drones, missiles, or gunfire from small craft. UKMTO also reported two other incidents in the area on Thursday. A tanker leaving the strait was struck by an unknown projectile, and a regional trading dhow caught fire and sank after a maritime security incident, according to The New Indian Express.newindianexpress.com+1

Separately, the IRGC navy said three tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the strait and a fourth vessel struck mines in its eastern part, Al Jazeera reported. Iran's claim came a day after the US military said it had cleared key routes through the waterway, according to The New Indian Express.aljazeera.com+1

Rising attacks on shipping

Attacks on commercial ships in and around the strait have continued since the US-Iran conflict began in February. Iran has targeted vessels it says broke its restrictions on passage through the waterway, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. International Maritime Organization figures count 34 confirmed attacks on vessels between September 28 and October 27, according to Seatrade Maritime. DPA reported that Iran has recently stepped up attacks along a southern shipping route the US Navy has been protecting.english.aawsat.com+2