Projectile Hits Tanker Off Ras Al Khaimah, Sparking Engine-Room Fire
Key Facts
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in an incident on November 11 at 18:00 UTC. The projectile struck the engine room, and all crew members were safely evacuated, the agency said. No injuries were reported, while firefighting efforts were ongoing when the alert was issued. The agency did not identify the tanker’s cargo or who was responsible for the attack. The incident puts navigational safety in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz in focus, as vessels have been repeatedly targeted in November.
UKMTO said the report of the incident was received late and placed it northwest of Ras Al Khaimah. The agency’s details showed that the strike hit the engine room, while the crew was safely removed from the vessel. The agency described the projectile only as unidentified and did not attribute the attack to any party. Its alert also did not identify the tanker’s cargo or report any other damage. The continued firefighting indicated that efforts to deal with the impact were still underway when the incident was reported.
In a separate incident on November 12, India’s minister of ports and shipping said the Liberian-flagged tanker MT Dominica Prosperity was attacked by a projectile off Ras Al Khaimah and was carrying 19 Indian seafarers. He added that the UAE Coast Guard evacuated all 22 crew members and that the 19 Indian seafarers were unharmed. The minister said Indian authorities remained in contact with the vessel’s management company to ensure the crew’s safety and well-being and provide logistical support. He said: "Indian authorities remain in constant contact with the vessel’s management company to ensure the crew’s safety and well-being and provide logistical support." This incident involved a different tanker from the one UKMTO reported the previous day, with the vessel, time and strike location details differing between the two reports.
UKMTO reported on November 10 that an eastbound tanker in the Arabian Gulf was hit by an unidentified projectile, with multiple injuries reported and the injured taken ashore for medical care, while the rest of the crew were safe. In a report published on November 11, Reuters said at least 10 vessels had been struck during the first 10 days of November. That followed 37 attacks on vessels in October, the highest monthly total since the conflict began, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. These incidents show a sequence of maritime events over a short period, though their effects on crew members varied from one incident to another. UKMTO’s information on the Ras Al Khaimah incident did not include an accusation or an investigative finding.
Disruptions to vessel traffic affect energy markets through oil flows and tanker availability. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said tanker attacks disrupted global oil flows and reduced tanker availability, driving a sharp increase in freight rates. The average spot price of Brent crude was $124 per barrel in October, up $10 from September and the highest level since July 2022 after adjusting for inflation, the agency said. But it noted that continued oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz using ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of Oman added to supply, and Brent fell below $100 per barrel on November 4. These figures provide context for a market where shipping disruptions and increased supply through alternative routes had differing effects.
UKMTO urged vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities continued their investigation. The Energy Information Administration said its forecast assumes that oil flows from the Middle East will remain relatively constrained through the end of 2026. On that basis, it expected Brent to average about $100 per barrel in November and December. The forecast puts supply constraints at the center of the market outlook for the two months, alongside the impact of tanker attacks on oil movements and vessel availability. UKMTO has not yet reported a finding from the investigation into the Ras Al Khaimah incident.