Asiaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Tanker Acers Hit by Multiple Projectiles Off Qatar, UKMTO Reports Casualties
Tanker hit by multiple projectiles about 51 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal Casualties reported among crew on board the tanker
Tanker Hit Off Qatar
A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles, with casualties reported, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency. UKMTO said the incident happened 94 kilometres (58 miles) north of Madinat ash Shamal, and it did not specify how many people were killed or injured.
The vessel was identified as the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged oil and chemical tanker Acers, and the attack occurred 51 nautical miles (94km) from Madinat al-Shamal. UKMTO said authorities were investigating and did not specify the origin of the ship, while the Maritime Executive said it was the first reported attack on a tanker in the western half of the Gulf in weeks.
Hormuz Dispute Over Control
Iran declared it would close a route in the strait of Hormuz being used to circumvent Tehran’s blockade, as the tanker reported being struck “by multiple projectiles” was in the Gulf about 500km (300 miles) west of the strait. Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards’ Commander, told the Fars news agency that “The strait of Hormuz is closed, and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have full control over it,” while the Joint Maritime Information Center said attacks and harassment including drone overflights persisted.
US CENTCOM rejected Iran’s claim that the strait had been closed, saying “Traffic is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz right now carrying commercial goods and energy supplies, including 20 million barrels of crude oil,” and describing Iran’s claim as “FALSE.” The strait was effectively closed after the start of the Iran war due to Tehran’s missile and drone attacks and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and a preliminary agreement to reopen the strait in June collapsed within weeks.
Shipping Risks and Next Steps
At least 24 seafarers have been killed in 93 confirmed incidents, and the last incident that resulted in casualties was on 9 September on the Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia. UKMTO said on Tuesday that there had been nine attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz this month, representing half of the September total in the waterway and the Gulf combined, and it said the latest incident was unusual because it occurred deep inside the Gulf.
Oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel as strikes on tankers sailing through the strait hit their highest weekly level since the Iran war began, and the week to 5 October saw at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the strait. The seven-day moving average of Middle East crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day (bpd) on September 30 compared with about 18 million bpd on average in the 12 months before the war, while UKMTO said it did not specify the origin of the ship and was investigating the Qatar incident.