File image.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on October 11 that a crude-oil supertanker struck a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an explosion and a fire in its engine room, as attacks on commercial shipping continued in the region.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy said the tanker was attempting to leave the strait through an “unauthorized route” with its navigation and identification systems switched off.
The incident marked the third time since the previous day that an oil tanker had struck a mine and caught fire while using what Iran described as an unauthorized route, according to the Corps.
“All vessels within the Strait of Hormuz that switch off their navigation and identification systems will be identified as hostile and dealt with firmly and decisively,” the IRGC Navy said.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported on October 11 that an outbound tanker had been struck on its port side by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining damage. The crew were reported safe, and authorities were investigating.
India subsequently identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Valthera. Indian officials reported that a fire broke out aboard the ship but that all 11 Indian crew members were safe. The available reports did not establish who was responsible for the attack.
In a separate incident, the tanker MT Petro Dolphin was attacked by a drone at Sohar Anchorage in Oman, according to Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Nine of the 11 Indian seafarers aboard were rescued, while two remained missing as search-and-rescue operations continued with the local Coast Guard.
“We are continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to fully support the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure every possible action is taken to safely locate our missing personnel,” Sonowal said.
The attack on Petro Dolphin occurred in the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz itself. Still, the area is within the conflict zone.
The incidents come amid an escalation in attacks on commercial shipping. Last week saw the highest number of tanker attacks in a single week since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in February, according to maritime security sources cited by Reuters.
Ship traffic through the strait has also declined sharply, with only seven commodity-carrying vessels passing through on October 6, the lowest daily total in more than two months, according to Kpler data reported by the news agency.
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