Mine attack disables tanker near Khasab; strike hits tug in Strait of Hormuz
Key Facts
The Panama-flagged tanker Louise 1 was targeted with two limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz on 29 October, sparking an engine-room fire and temporarily disabling the vessel, Reuters reported. The attack took place 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, according to the agency, citing the UK Maritime Trade Operations organization. The organization said the crew was safe, the fire had been extinguished and there was no environmental impact, and that the vessel continued to its next port of call. The organization did not name the tanker in its notice, but three maritime security sources identified it as the Louise 1. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, and open sources did not establish the tanker’s cargo at the time it was targeted.
The incident came amid repeated attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict between the United States and Iran began in February, Reuters reported. The agency described the mine attack as the first known successful use of these explosives in the passage since the war began that month. It also reported that Ukrainian forces targeted the same tanker with naval drones in the Black Sea in July. Ukraine’s security service said at the time that it had targeted the vessel because of its role in carrying Russian oil and its links to what is known as the shadow fleet. The Louise 1 has therefore been attacked in two different maritime theaters during the year, while no party has claimed responsibility for the Hormuz attack.
In a separate incident on 1 November, the Panama-flagged tug Silaht Storm was hit by an unknown projectile inside the Strait of Hormuz at around 15:00 UTC, according to Seatrade Maritime. The tug was reported to be partially sinking, while the cited open source gave no statement on the condition of its crew. On the same day, maritime coverage reported that a tanker bound for the southeastern Gulf was hit by two unknown projectiles on its port side. This occurred 72 nautical miles east of Ras al-Khafji, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations organization said all crew members were safe and there was no environmental impact. This incident differs from the Louise 1 attack in location, date and reported weapon type, and sources do not establish that the tanker hit near Khafji was the Louise 1.
The reported attacks coincided with a month that saw a notable concentration of shipping incidents in the strait. The Associated Press said October was the busiest month for reported attacks on commercial vessels in Hormuz since March, during the first weeks of the war. Shipping disruptions in the region have lengthened voyages and raised tanker charter costs, the agency reported. Daily spot charter rates for tankers transiting the strait reached $1 million in September. This places the October and November incidents in the context of ongoing operational pressure on oil transport, without by itself meaning that every incident caused a specific price move.
In the market, the December Brent contract rose 2.4% to $117.64 a barrel on 30 October, while West Texas Intermediate gained 2.08% to $104.12, Reuters reported. The agency linked the move to escalation concerns and supply risks following the tanker attack. Brent ended October up 13.6%, while U.S. crude rose 15.2%. Dennis Kissler, an analyst at BOK Financial, said traders “will continue to focus on oil flows from the Middle East and the potential for escalation by the United States and allied forces.” But prices fell in morning trading on 2 November, with Brent down 3.9% to $109.01 a barrel and U.S. crude down 4.1% to $99.82, amid renewed hopes of diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran, the Associated Press reported.
On 2 November, Iran said it had a plan that could be implemented within two days to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks if Washington met its demands. Tehran had previously said implementing the plan could take a week if the United States accepted seven conditions, including lifting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The Associated Press added that Iran wants ships to transit the open passage along a route agreed by Tehran and Muscat and under Iranian supervision. In a parallel diplomatic track, China announced plans to send a special envoy to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November to work on reducing tensions. Under the Iranian proposal as reported, reopening the strait remains contingent on meeting the demands and agreeing on transit arrangements.