Tankers hit by attacks, boardings in Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf

Tankers transiting key Middle East shipping lanes have been targeted in a series of attacks and unauthorized boardings, according to advisories issued by the UK Maritime Trade Operations on July 17.

UKMTO reported two separate incidents involving merchant vessels and military forces in the region. A tanker was subject to interaction with military forces approximately 100 nautical miles east of Duqm, Oman, as part of ongoing military activity, UKMTO said. A similar incident occurred in the Arabian Gulf, where a tanker was subject to interactions with military forces, according to a separate advisory.

"Vessels are advised to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment," UKMTO said.

A tanker was also struck by an unknown projectile approximately 19 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, causing minor structural damage to the port side, the UKMTO said. All crew members are safe and the vessel is continuing to its next port of call with no environmental impact reported, UKMTO said.

A separate vessel was boarded by unauthorized personnel approximately 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, while transiting east through the Gulf of Aden, according to another UKMTO report. Authorities are investigating both incidents.

The incidents come amid continued disruption to shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, suspended nominations of crude oil grades requiring transit through the strait for its Dubai crude benchmark on March 2, and suspended bids and offers for Middle East refined products assessments for Persian Gulf ports within the Strait on the same date.

The Strait is a critical transit point for crude oil exports from major producers, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq. Disruptions to tanker movements through the waterway can affect the flow of medium sour crude grades to Asian refiners and the availability of gasoline, gasoil and other products loading from Gulf terminals.

Ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 13 on July 16, from 18 a day before, well below pre-conflict levels as heightened security risks persist, S&P Global Commodities at Sea said in a July 17 report.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the rate to carry a 270,000 metric ton cargo of crude from the Gulf to China at $73.80/mt July 17, stable day over day. Platts assessed the rate to carry a 65,000 mt cargo of clean products from the Gulf to UK/Continent at $88.46/mt, down 77 cents/mt on the day.