The maritime authorities of the United Kingdom have communicated this Thursday a new series of missile attacks of still unclear origin in the Strait of Hormuz. The projectiles have hit two oil tankers, which have had to be evacuated due to fires declared on board, as well as a container ship on which a fire also occurred, although of lesser extent.
According to details provided by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), one of the incidents occurred about five nautical miles, approximately eight kilometers, south of the Iraqi city of Basra. In that area, two oil tankers have been targeted by attacks that have triggered fires on the vessels.
“All crew members have been evacuated”, the operations center has indicated, which has also stated that, so far, there is no record of “any environmental impact” as a direct consequence of these incidents.
In another separate episode, 35 nautical miles, almost 65 kilometers, north of Jebel Ali, in the United Arab Emirates, a new missile has impacted a container ship and has caused a “small fire” on board. Although the crew “is safe”, the authorities have explained that it has not been possible to carry out a “complete assessment” of the damages due to the lack of visibility during the night.
While the investigations to clarify how these attacks have unfolded continue, the UKMTO has asked all ships transiting the area to navigate “with caution” and to immediately report “any suspicious activity” they detect.
These episodes add to the attacks registered on Wednesday against three other vessels, in full increase of military tension in the region following the offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran and the subsequent Iranian reprisals.
Brent, above $100
The intensification of hostilities is directly impacting maritime traffic that crosses the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage through which about a quarter of the world's seaborne crude oil trade circulates, in addition to a significant volume of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
On Wednesday night, the price of Brent crude, a benchmark for European markets, rose again to above 100 dollars, according to data from Bloomberg agency. The surge occurred after Oman ordered the withdrawal of all its vessels from its main oil export terminal and after two oil tankers were attacked in Iraqi waters.
The practical paralysis of maritime traffic in Hormuz has forced Gulf producers to cut their pumping, fueling a sharp escalation in crude and natural gas prices. In response, the United States has announced the release of 172 million barrels from its strategic reserves with the aim of mitigating the rising cost of energy.