LONDON — Attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level since the war between the United States, Israel and Iran began, with at least 12 vessels struck in the week ended Oct. 11, according to the New York Post — the latest surge in the Hormuz ship attacks rattling global energy markets.
The vital waterway, one of the busiest routes for exporting oil and other commodities from Gulf countries, has seen a sharp escalation in strikes on merchant shipping in recent weeks, security data shows.
Hormuz ship attacks reach record levels
The weekly tally of Hormuz ship attacks now stands at the highest of any week since the US war with Iran began on Feb. 28, maritime security sources tracking incidents told Reuters earlier this month. In the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, at least 12 attacks were recorded on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers.
The United Nations’ shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, recorded nine incidents in that same week — the IMO tends to take longer to verify incidents — while the closest comparable week was the week of July 13, with eight incidents.
Fresh security data released this week showed at least 10 vessels attacked in or near the strait since Sunday, Oct. 11, including six struck on Sunday alone — the highest single-day total since the conflict began — according to data from security firm Vanguard, the IMO and the British maritime agency UKMTO.
Twenty-three Hormuz ship attacks have been recorded since the start of October, almost double the average monthly number since the war began. Two seafarers have been reported missing and a container ship reportedly sank as a result of recent attacks.
The attacks have disrupted shipping through the strait, which is normally one of the busiest routes for exporting oil and other commodities from Gulf countries.
Before October’s surge, the closest week in terms of comparable incidents was the week of July 13, when separate IMO data showed eight incidents — a figure now dwarfed by the latest Hormuz ship attacks.
Who is behind the attacks
Merchant vessels transiting the vital passage were first targeted by Iran in March in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on its territory, and Tehran has continued to strike vessels passing through the strait via routes it has not approved.
Attacks, attempted attacks and harassment — including drone overflights, surveillance and hailing using VHF radio by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards — have persisted in the strait, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said in a note this month.
“These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels,” the center said.
The pattern of the Hormuz ship attacks suggests a deliberate campaign to punish shipping that does not follow Tehran’s approved routes, analysts say.
The United States said it had struck a cargo vessel as part of its embargo on Iranian ports, an incident that was not listed by the IMO.
Maritime security sources caution that the true pace of attacks may be even higher, because the IMO tends to take longer to verify and officially record incidents.
Oil markets react to the Hormuz ship attacks
Analysts say the Hormuz ship attacks are being driven in part by a recovery in Gulf energy exports. Oil flows through the strait had returned to about 80 percent of pre-war levels at the start of October before falling back, according to Vanguard analyst Barun Gupta.
Gulf oil exporters topped pre-war levels for about half of September, shipping data showed, though the Hormuz ship attacks and logistical constraints have clouded the outlook for sustained higher flows.
India’s foreign ministry said 12 crew members were injured after an unknown projectile struck the Panama-flagged oil tanker On Peace while it was passing through the strait.
What to watch
With Gulf producers pushing to keep oil flowing and Tehran showing no sign of easing its campaign against shipping on unapproved routes, the Hormuz ship attacks look set to remain a flashpoint for energy markets in the weeks ahead.