British maritime authority reports ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz

A British maritime authority announced on Monday that a ship was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, amid a notable decline in traffic through the vital waterway despite US assurances.

The agency, which monitors shipping and commercial vessel movements, said military authorities had informed it that a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while crossing the strait, resulting in injuries to two crew members. The authority confirmed that the vessel appeared to have continued on its route to its destination after the incident.

Recurring incidents and rising tensions

Similar attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have occurred recently, making the waterway a focal point of tensions between Iran and the United States. Shipping activity dropped sharply at the start of the week as ongoing tensions and fears of renewed military action between the two sides negatively impacted traffic through one of the world's most important energy trade routes.

Preliminary shipping data cited by Reuters showed that 12 cargo vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and Sunday, compared to 35 ships during the previous weekend. These figures do not include some vessels that may have crossed the strait after disabling their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection.

Historic decline and security concerns

Previously, before tensions escalated, the strait saw around 125 large commercial ships pass through daily, including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships. The waterway handled about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, but traffic has dropped significantly since February 28, following the first US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

Since then, shipping activity has remained almost paralyzed compared to previous levels. Mines laid by Iranian forces in the strait have heightened concerns among shipping and insurance companies, despite US claims that most have been cleared. Iranian demands that vessels obtain passage permits have also added to the difficulties of navigating this critical maritime corridor.