Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz: Iran Says It Struck Trend as Shipping Traffic Plunges

Oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz concerns intensified after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they struck a Togo-flagged tanker named Trend that was attempting what Tehran described as an illegal passage through the strategic waterway.

Iranian state media quoted the Guards as saying the tanker was targeted and detained after a fire broke out on board.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a security incident near the Strait of Hormuz in which a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished.

UKMTO said the crew was safe and no environmental damage had been confirmed. It did not establish that the vessel in its report was the same tanker identified by Iran as Trend.

Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Incident Comes as Traffic Slumps

The incident unfolded as commercial shipping through the strait remained far below recent levels.

Preliminary Kpler tracking data cited by Reuters showed that only four commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from six the previous day and well below the 10-day daily average of about 16.

Tracking the full number of ships has become increasingly difficult because some vessels are operating without transmitting normal identification signals.

Profile News has previously reported on the sharp decline in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Says 105 Commercial Ships Have Been Redirected

U.S. Central Command said the number of commercial vessels redirected since Washington resumed its maritime blockade of Iran had risen to 105.

The competing Iranian and U.S. measures are forcing shipping companies to reassess routes and security arrangements in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial outlet for oil and gas exports from Gulf producers to Asian and global markets, meaning prolonged disruption can affect freight costs, insurance and energy prices well beyond the region.

Profile News has also covered previous attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Report Sources: Profile News, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, UKMTO, CENTCOM, Reuters, Reuters.