Blast strikes tanker off coast of Oman in Strait of Hormuz corridor, UKMTO says
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- The blast occurred at the waterline on the port side, with all crew members accounted for and unharmed
- The tanker sustained its own power and continued its voyage while regional maritime authorities opened an investigation
A commercial tanker transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz reported an explosion along its waterline off the coast of Oman, maritime security monitors stated in an advisory issued on Friday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the blast took place at approximately 22:00 UTC on Nov. 5, 2026, roughly 16 nautical miles east of the Omani port town of Khasab, located along the Musandam Peninsula.
The vessel’s master reported that an explosion occurred on the port side at the waterline while the ship was navigating the strategic waterway toward the Sea of Oman.
Despite the impact, the ship’s crew was reported safe and fully accounted for, with no casualties documented.
The vessel maintained propulsion and maneuverability under its own power and continued along its scheduled voyage route.
UKMTO WARNING 197-26 Click here to view the full warning⤵️ https://t.co/aBIdf04F1H #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec https://t.co/1gIG2Bx8UZ
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) November 6, 2026
"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO, whilst authorities investigate," the agency said in an operational notice categorizing the event as an attack under incident reference 197-26.
