INTERTANKO warns that shipping risks have escalated from Kuwait to the Gulf of Oman amid rising US-Iran tensions, impacting commercial vessels.
The security threat to commercial shipping has widened across the Gulf region, with tanker group INTERTANKO warning that risks now extend from Kuwait to the Gulf of Oman as US-Iran hostilities intensify, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
In a Friday update, INTERTANKO stated that the Arabian Gulf has seen a new cycle of violence, with attacks on ships and shore installations. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a tanker struck by a projectile near Khasab, Oman, causing minor damage but no injuries. Additionally, two other tankers were caught up in military activity near Kharg Island and east of Duqm.
Earlier this week, two tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the death of one seafarer. A chemical tanker was also struck by a cruise missile in the Gulf of Oman, apparently mistaken for a warship. The United States has continued its campaign against Iran for six nights, striking dozens of military targets and boarding the tanker Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman.
US forces reported that they redirected three commercial vessels attempting to enter Iranian ports and disabled one that failed to comply. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared on social media that 'Iran does not control the SoH.' Vessel-tracking firm Kpler reported that Hormuz crossings fell to just eight on July 16, the lowest in three weeks.
INTERTANKO warned that ships remain a significant target for Iran, citing a fresh attack off Oman. In response, India has ordered shipowners to avoid deploying Indian seafarers in Hormuz until further notice, although existing crews may continue if risks are documented and consent is obtained. The association noted that conditions remain more stable in the southern Red Sea, with no signs of renewed Houthi attacks.
