Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz threaten oil supplies

UK Maritime Commercial Operations (UKMTO), an agency that monitors the safety of ships and sailors around the world, reported that three ships were hit by projectiles in and around the Strait of Hormuz this Wednesday (11).

In turn, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the attack on at least one Israeli-owned and Liberian-flagged ship, the Express Roomwhile Tehran stated that it would not allow “a single liter of oil” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the US, Israel or their partners.

Attack on cargo ship northwest of Dubai

The UKMTO issued an alert on Wednesday that a bulk carrier was hit by an unknown projectile just under 100 kilometers northwest of Dubai, close to the Strait of Hormuz, without disclosing the name of the vessel. According to the alert, the ship’s captain reported the attack and stated that the crew was “safe and sound.”

Hours later, the Greek newspaper Naftemporiki reported that another bulk carrier, the Star Gwyneth, which sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands but belongs to the Greek shipping company Star Bulk Carriers, was hit in the hull by a projectile northwest of Dubai.

Cargo ship to the north of Oman

The British agency also reported that a cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile just over 20 kilometers north of Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board. The vessel requested assistance and its crew evacuated.

The Royal Thai Navy said it had received a report of an attack in the Strait of Hormuz on a Thai-flagged bulk carrier belonging to Precious Shipping Public, which caught fire, which coincides with the UKMTO report.

According to the Thai press, the vessel is the Mayuree Naree, with 23 crew members on board. The Royal Navy of Oman rescued 20 of them and continues efforts to assist the remaining three, as announced by the Southeast Asian country’s armed forces on social media.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the attack on the Mayuree Naree and also claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel’s Express Room.

Projectile attack on container ships in the Persian Gulf

The UKMTO further reported that the captain of a container ship alerted authorities that the vessel had been damaged by an “unidentified projectile” 46 kilometers northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf.

According to the newspaper Naftemporikithe container ship is the Japanese-flagged One Majesty.

Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) reported that its ship, the One Majesty, was hit by another vessel this Wednesday while it was anchored in the Persian Gulf. In a statement sent to EFE agencythe company, which is investigating the incident, stated that the ship is operating normally and the crew is safe.

At least 17 incidents since the start of the war near the Strait of Hormuz, according to UKMTO

Since February 28, when the US and Israeli offensive against Iran began, the UKMTO has recorded 17 incidents affecting ships around the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is experiencing a drastic drop in maritime traffic. Iran, which blocks it from the north, has repeatedly threatened not to allow the export of “a single liter of oil” from the region if attacks against the country do not cease, while Washington insists the offensive will intensify if Tehran continues to cut off the flow of crude oil.

Oil price

The price of Brent crude oil rose 2.76% this Wednesday, surpassing US$90 on the London futures market.

Iran warned that it will not be possible to lower the price of oil through “artificial measures” and that, due to the pressure exerted in the Strait of Hormuz, the price of a barrel could rise to US$200.

For its part, US Central Command (Centcom) claimed to have destroyed several Iranian warships near Hormuz, including 16 mine-laying ships.