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UKMTO says tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Friday that it had received a report of an incident involving a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to UKMTO Warning 138-26, the vessel's company security officer reported that the tanker was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished.
All crew members were reported safe, while any environmental impact remained unconfirmed.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report suspicious activity as authorities investigate.
Iran claims tanker strike earlier
The warning came hours after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said it had struck a Togo-flagged oil tanker named Trend while it was attempting what Iran described as an "illegal passage" through the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC said the tanker caught fire and was stopped.
It also warned that vessels attempting what it considers unauthorized passage through the waterway could face destruction.
UKMTO did not identify the vessel involved in its warning, and there was no immediate independent confirmation that the Trend was the tanker referenced in the maritime alert.
Shipping under pressure
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks and security incidents involving commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz since the US-‘Israel’ war on Iran began in February.
Shipping traffic has fallen sharply.
Reuters reported Friday, citing Kpler data, that only four commodity vessels transited the Strait on Thursday, compared with a 10-day average of 16.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy shipments, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
