ALBAWABA – A tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz was hit on Friday by an unidentified projectile, which caused a fire on board the vessel, as security problems continue to dog one of the world’s most significant energy supply lines.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the fire was extinguished and the crew were all reported safe. Authorities said it is not yet known if the incident caused any damage to the environment.
The UKMTO advised caution for vessels operating in the vicinity and asked them to report any suspicious activity as the investigation into the incident continues.
Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its naval forces had attacked the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran said the vessel was seeking an unauthorized passage across the key canal. The Iranian army warned that ships attempting transit without permission could be met with action.
However, the first report from UKMTO did not state who fired the projectile. It was also unclear if the vessel UKMTO said was hit and the tanker Iran said it targeted were the same ship.
🚨🇮🇷 HORMUZ — Tanker Hit by Projectile as IRGC Claims ResponsibilityThe UKMTO confirms that an oil tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz.➡️ A fire broke out onboard but was brought under control➡️ The crew is safe➡️ No environmental damage has… pic.twitter.com/ziprwm4opC
The incident comes amid ongoing disruption of commercial ships via the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions.
Only four commodity-carrying vessels passed through the strait on Thursday, compared with an average of 16 vessels over the past 10 days, Reuters reported. There are also reports that some ships have shut off their tracking transponders for security reasons.
Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime chokepoints, with a fifth of global oil and gas flows passing through it throughout the years.
The latest tanker strike increases worry over the safety of commercial vessels that use the canal and the possible effect on global energy supply of similar strikes.
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