Three Oil Tankers Struck in Strait of Hormuz

MONTREAL (Oil Monster): Three Liberian-flagged oil tankers were struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, adding another security concern for commercial shipping through one of the world's most important energy corridors.

Shipping intelligence service Marisks reported that the incidents occurred Tuesday, September 29, while the vessels were moving through the strait with their Automatic Identification System, or AIS, transponders switched off.

The vessels were identified as the oil-products tanker Al Ruwais, very large crude carrier Mersin Prosperity and Aframax tanker Sinbad.

Tankers Were Transiting With AIS Switched Off

Marisks said the three ships had turned off their AIS transponders while navigating the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to reduce their visibility.

AIS normally broadcasts a vessel's identity, position, course and speed to other ships and tracking systems. Some commercial vessels operating through high-risk areas have reduced or suspended transmissions amid continuing security threats in the Gulf.

The latest incidents add to concerns over the risks facing tankers attempting to move crude oil and refined products through the strategic waterway.

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Al Ruwais Had Recently Carried Diesel

Kpler data showed that Al Ruwais had recently conducted a ship-to-ship transfer off Sohar, Oman, after discharging its diesel cargo.

ADNOC Logistics & Services, which manages Al Ruwais, declined to comment on the reported incident.

Mersin Prosperity Moved 2 Million Barrels of Iraqi Crude

Mersin Prosperity, a very large crude carrier, conducted a ship-to-ship transfer off Sohar in mid-September involving approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude, according to Kpler data.

The vessel is also managed by ADNOC Logistics & Services, which declined to comment.

Sinbad Loaded Refined Products in Saudi Arabia

The Aframax-sized Sinbad loaded refined petroleum products at Saudi Arabia's Jubail industrial port in early September, according to Kpler.

Its manager, Anglo-Eastern Tanker Management, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hormuz Shipping Risks Remain Elevated

The reported strikes come as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to operate under heightened security conditions.

Commercial traffic has been disrupted repeatedly during the conflict, prompting some vessels to transit with AIS signals switched off and forcing operators to reconsider routing, security procedures and cargo-transfer strategies.

OilMonster reported in late September that visible commodity-vessel traffic through Hormuz had fallen sharply even as large crude carriers continued moving substantial volumes through the waterway.

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Oil Flows Continue Despite Security Threats

Despite persistent attacks and disruptions, crude flows through Hormuz have been recovering.

That recovery has increasingly depended on a combination of guarded transits, vessels operating with reduced visibility and alternative logistics such as ship-to-ship transfers and bypass pipelines.

The latest tanker incidents underline that higher shipment volumes do not necessarily mean the security situation in the strait has normalized.

What Happens Next

Attention will now focus on whether additional information emerges about the source of the projectiles, the extent of any vessel damage and whether the incidents lead tanker operators to further alter transit procedures through the strait.

No party had been publicly identified as responsible for the strikes at the time of reporting.

Explore More on OilMonster

• Hormuz Traffic Falls to 9; Crude Exports Reach 33.7M
• Over 1 Billion Barrels of Crude Move Through Strait of Hormuz
• Oil Prices Reverse Gains as Gulf Exports Recover

Source: Reuters; Marisks; Kpler.

Courtesy: www.reuters.com