Hormuz shipping attacks rise as traffic stays low

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported 11 attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf during the seven days ending November 4. Three of the targeted ships sank, while five others required assistance and three continued their voyages. Eight of the incidents occurred in the strait, and three took place in the Arabian Gulf.

The violence in the region has intensified recently. On November 1, a Panama-flagged supply vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile and sank after a nearby merchant ship rescued its crew. Two days later, a dhow was struck by a projectile on November 2, killing one crew member while local authorities rescued 13 others. On November 4, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the Arabian Gulf took two unidentified projectiles and drifted until local authorities arrived to assist.

Shipping volume in the area remains suppressed despite a slight weekly increase. Combined transits in the Strait of Hormuz reached 325 in the reporting period, up from 277 the previous week. This figure includes 170 outbound and 155 inbound movements. UKMTO noted that current traffic levels are approximately 65 percent below pre-conflict averages. Around 80 percent of these transits involved energy carriers.

Observational data shows a shift in routing behavior. Automatic Identification System-observed transits increased to 71 from 64 the prior week. While US-reported facilitated transits remained stable, UKMTO recorded a rise in vessels using the southern route. Most ships broadcasting AIS, however, continued to follow the Iranian route.

Conditions in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remained calmer. No attacks on shipping were reported during the week. The last incident in that region occurred on August 24, which is 65 days before the current reporting period. Bab el-Mandeb transits are still 24 percent lower than levels recorded before the Houthi blockade announcement on July 22.

The next weekly overview from UKMTO is scheduled for release later this week. The report will update the count of attacks, vessel status, and transit volumes for the period ending November 11.