Tanker Attacks Escalate in Strait of Hormuz and Wider Gulf

· Shipping · United Arab Emirates · Iran

Attacks on commercial shipping escalated sharply over the weekend, with two more tankers struck in the Strait of Hormuz and a fully laden VLCC hit off the UAE as Iran widens its campaign beyond the strait. The Panama-flagged 302,000 dwt Gem No.2 was struck by an unidentified projectile about 13 nautical miles off the UAE coast on Friday. US forces separately disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored warnings and attempted to run a blockade of Iran. Shipbroker Gibson reported that tanker attacks in the Middle East hit their highest level since the war began, and the pace has continued. The attacks have sent tanker rates soaring to unprecedented levels, with one report citing global VLCC spot earnings reaching $805,000 per day.

Why it matters：The spread of attacks beyond Hormuz directly threatens global oil flows and crew safety, pushing freight and insurance costs to records and forcing shipowners to reroute or pause voyages that carry a large share of the world's seaborne crude. Further escalation could disrupt supply to Asia and Europe and accelerate the fragmentation of the tanker fleet.

Key points

  • Two tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz and a laden VLCC was hit off the UAE over the weekend.
  • US forces disabled a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings and tried to run the Iran blockade.
  • Gibson reported Middle East tanker attacks at their highest level since the war began, with no sign of slowing.

Sources (original reporting)

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