Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Three commercial vessels, including a crude oil tanker and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, were struck by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) disclosed on Wednesday that the incidents occurred a day earlier in the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets.
According to the British maritime agency, a crude oil tanker, an LNG tanker and a third vessel were each “been struck by an unknown projectile”.
The agency did not provide further details on the nature of the projectiles, the extent of the damage or the parties responsible for the attacks.
The latest development comes as tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a major flashpoint in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.
The waterway is regarded as one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, serving as a key route for global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Before the outbreak of hostilities, nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies moved through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets and global trade.
Since the conflict escalated, commercial shipping activities in the area have faced increasing risks. Tehran has been preventing the passage of some commercial vessels and has fired on ships it claims crossed the waterway without authorisation.
In response, Washington has imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports in an effort to restrict Iran’s oil exports.
The reported strikes on the three tankers are expected to intensify concerns among shipping operators, energy traders and governments monitoring developments in the Middle East.
Further details on the incidents were not immediately available.
