Tanker Fire in Strait of Hormuz After US Disables Blockade-Running Cargo Ship

A Hormuz tanker fire has deepened the crisis in the world’s most important oil shipping lane, after an outbound tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday — just as the United States confirmed it had disabled a cargo ship attempting to run its naval blockade of Iran.

FAKTA

• What happened: An outbound tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was struck on the port side by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on board. The crew was reported safe, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
• US action: A US fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica (also known as Arika Sun) in the Gulf of Oman with a precision munition, fully disabling its propulsion without harming the crew, US Central Command said.
• Iran’s claim: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed the burning vessel was a “violating” supertanker that struck a naval mine after using an unauthorised route with its navigation systems switched off.
• Warning: The IRGC Navy warned that any vessel switching off its navigation and identification systems in the strait will be treated as hostile.
• Context: The Strait of Hormuz carried 20% of the world’s oil consumption before the war began in February; transits have now fallen to their lowest in more than two months.

Hormuz tanker fire: UKMTO reports projectile strike

The UKMTO said on Sunday it had received a report that an outbound tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck on the port side by an unknown projectile. The strike caused a fire on board. The vessel’s crew was reported safe, while the damage assessment and environmental impact were unknown at the time of the report.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. The agency did not identify the tanker, its flag or its operator, and authorities were investigating the incident.

US disables blockade-runner in Gulf of Oman

The Hormuz tanker fire came within hours of a confirmed US enforcement action nearby. US Central Command said a US fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica — also known as the Arika Sun — in the Gulf of Oman on October 10, after the vessel’s crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

According to CENTCOM, the precision strike fully disabled the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew. The command said the cargo vessel had attempted to transit regional waters after departing an Iranian port, and warned mariners in the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to heed blockade warnings.

IRGC claims mine strike, warns “hostile” ships

Iran’s IRGC Navy offered a different account of the Hormuz tanker fire. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC Navy said a crude-laden supertanker attempting to exit the strait through an “unauthorised” route struck a naval mine, triggering an explosion and a massive fire. The statement said the vessel had switched off its navigation and positioning systems before the incident.

“A devastating fire is the fate of any tanker that violates the rules and disregards security in the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC Navy said, warning that enforcement against vessels using unauthorised routes would be firm and decisive.

The competing accounts — a projectile strike reported to UKMTO versus a mine strike claimed by the IRGC — could not be independently reconciled, and the burning vessel was not officially named.

Oil flows under strain

The weekend’s incidents add to a sharp escalation at sea. On Friday, the Panama-flagged very large crude carrier Gem No. 2 was struck by a projectile off the United Arab Emirates; the fire was extinguished and India’s ports minister confirmed all 22 Indian seafarers on board were safe.

According to the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level since the war began in February. Reuters reported that vessel transits through the strait have fallen to their lowest in more than two months, raising concerns over shipping disruptions and crude prices.

Follow our Middle East coverage for updates as the situation develops.