The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said three attacks on tankers near the
Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday prompted it to raise the maritime threat level to
'severe', the second-highest. An unnamed LNG carrier suffered a fire after an
unidentified object struck the port side of its engine room while transiting the
strait. A very large crude carrier (VLCC) was hit by an unidentified object as
it departed the strait; the vessel continued to its destination and no
casualties were reported. A third tanker was attacked near Oman's Musandam
peninsula, sustaining minor structural damage. UKMTO said the likelihood of
deliberate hostile action has increased, navigational disruption persists and
vessels should remain highly vigilant. It added that Iran's Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps' hailing and route-interference activity continues,
notably targeting ships with their automatic identification system (AIS) active.
