UK maritime agency reports oil tanker hit by unknown projectile after leaving Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an oil tanker was attacked by an unknown projectile as it departed the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in damage to the vessel but no injuries among the crew, according to a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

The agency said it received a report from the security officer of the tanker’s operating company, confirming that the ship was hit on its port side. All crew members were unharmed and no environmental pollution was recorded as a result of the incident, the statement added.

Incident details and ongoing investigations

The UKMTO confirmed the tanker was struck while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, but did not specify the exact location or the type of projectile used in the attack. Authorities have launched an investigation, and ships transiting the strait have been urged to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

The statement did not identify the party responsible for the attack or the name of the tanker, nor did it detail the extent of the damage sustained.

Repeated incidents in the maritime corridor

This incident follows a report by the UKMTO a day earlier of another tanker being hit by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, which caused a fire onboard but no crew injuries.

The agency has recorded several similar incidents in October, involving oil and gas tankers targeted by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. On October 7, the UKMTO received a report of a tanker being hit by multiple projectiles north of Al Shamal, Qatar, resulting in crew injuries, but the party responsible was not identified.

Rising maritime tensions in the region

The British warning comes amid escalating maritime confrontations between the United States and Iran. The US Central Command announced it had disabled a commercial vessel attempting to breach the naval blockade on Iranian ports.

According to a statement from US Central Command, reported by Reuters, a US fighter jet used precision munitions to disable the propulsion system of the Panama-flagged vessel "Ocean Mollica" as it departed an Iranian port on Saturday, after ignoring US Navy warnings. No crew members were injured, the statement said.