Hormuz traffic drops as attacks sink three ships
UKMTO reports 11 incidents in seven days, with transit numbers still far below pre-conflict baselines.
By Tessa Cooper ·
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations recorded 11 attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf between October 29 and November 4. Three ships sank during this seven-day period. Eight of the incidents occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, while three took place in the Arabian Gulf.
The conflict in the region has disrupted shipping patterns for weeks. UKMTO data shows that combined traffic in the Strait of Hormuz reached 325 transits during the reporting period. This figure includes 170 outbound and 155 inbound movements. The previous week saw 277 transits. Current levels sit at approximately 65 percent below pre-conflict norms.
Specific incidents included a dhow struck by an unidentified projectile on November 2. One crew member died in that attack, and local authorities rescued 13 others. A Panama-flagged supply vessel took a hit from an unidentified projectile on November 1. It sank after a nearby merchant ship rescued its crew. On November 4, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was struck by two projectiles in the Arabian Gulf. The vessel drifted and required assistance from local authorities.
Of the 11 vessels involved, three continued their voyages without stopping. Five required assistance. Automatic Identification System data showed 71 observed transits, up from 64 the prior week. Roughly 80 percent of these movements involved energy carriers. Most ships continued to use the Iranian route, though some shifted to the southern path.
The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb saw no attacks during this week. The last recorded incident there happened on August 24. Transits in that area remain 24 percent below levels from before the Houthi blockade announcement on July 22. UKMTO will publish its next weekly overview in early November.
