At least four crew members were injured and all were evacuated after an oil tanker was attacked off the coast of Oman in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The attack came amidst escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
As per Oman's Maritime Security Centre, the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was targeted about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port in Musandam Governorate. Among the 20 crew members, 15 were Indian nationals while the rest were from Iran. All were evacuated safely, though the injured individuals were transferred to a hospital for medical treatment.
Omani authorities also confirmed that a drone attack targeted the port of Duqm. These incidents occurred a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared via radio transmissions that the Strait of Hormuz was closed to international navigation. While Tehran has not formally announced a full blockade, multiple vessels in the area received VHF warnings stating that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz." The British Navy noted that such orders were not legally binding but advised extreme caution.
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Global Energy Markets at Risk
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most significant maritime choke points, carrying roughly 20 per cent of global oil supply and large volumes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), particularly from Qatar. An EU naval mission official reported that disruptions are building rapidly, and while traffic has not completely stopped, the impact is severe.
Shipping Halts and Insurance Withdrawals
In response to the volatility, several major oil companies and tanker owners have suspended shipments through the route. German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd and the French group CMA CGM are among those that have instructed ships to seek shelter or suspend transit. Satellite imagery has already shown vessels backing up near Fujairah in the UAE.
According to consultancy firm Kpler, at least 14 LNG tankers have slowed, stopped, or turned around. Notable vessels like the KHK Empress and the India-flagged Desh Abhimaan reportedly reversed course. Furthermore, marine insurers have halted coverage for voyages in the region, leaving operators exposed to significant risk premiums.
Regional Ripple Effects
The disruption has had immediate effects on regional shipping. According to reports from ANI, three vessels belonging to the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, the Karachi, Lahore, and Khairpur, were stopped by Iran from entering the strait.
Oil markets reopened on Sunday evening amid intense speculation that Brent crude could surge toward 100 dollar per barrel, a level not seen since the early days of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Analysts from Barclays warned that a prolonged halt in the strait could block up to 20 million barrels of oil per day, potentially causing a global energy crisis.
The situation remains highly volatile as the region braces for further fallout following the joint US-Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.