UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the UK centre that merchant ships in the region report security incidents to, lists a run of attacks on vessels in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman over the past fortnight. Its most recent entry is dated Wednesday 21 October.
What UKMTO reports
These are UKMTO's entries as it reports them, newest first.
On 21 October, warning 179-26: local authorities reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman. A fire started and was extinguished, the tanker is at anchor, all crew are safe and there is no reported environmental impact.
On 20 October, warning 180-26, a late report: the master of a tanker 30 nautical miles southeast of Al Faw, Iraq, reported being struck by an unknown projectile. The crew are safe and no damage or environmental impact was reported.
On 18 October, warning 177-26: a tug northeast of Khor Fakkan, UAE, was struck by two unknown projectiles. It was damaged and continued its passage, with one minor casualty.
On 16 October, two tankers northeast of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia: one reported an attack with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from a small boat, with damage to the aft port quarter and the crew safe; the other was struck by an unknown projectile and its crew were evacuated and are safe.
On 14 October, warnings 172-26 and 173-26: two container ships were struck by unknown projectiles within the Strait of Hormuz. Both had minor damage, there were no casualties, and both continued.
From 11 to 13 October, UKMTO lists several more tankers and container ships struck by unknown projectiles within the Strait of Hormuz, and on 11 October a tanker at the Sohar anchorage, Oman, struck by an uncrewed aerial vehicle, with local authorities assisting in evacuating the crew.
Each of these entries advises vessels to transit with caution and to report suspicious activity to UKMTO while the authorities investigate.
What the UN said
At the UN noon briefing on Thursday 22 October, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General was asked about reported attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. He did not confirm any figure. He said "no commercial ships should be attacked", called for a return to free and open navigation in the Strait, and urged the United States and Iran to return to diplomacy. He also said "we need to see that waterway reopen".
What is not in the record
No UKMTO entry names who carried out any attack. Several entries are late reports, so an entry's date can be the date it was reported rather than the date of the incident. This post does not give a total: the log mixes strikes with other entries, such as an interaction between a tanker and military forces east of Duqm, Oman, on 20 October. The FCDO's Oman travel advice has not changed since 22 July.
What it means for operators
These are Ops Con planning points, not UKMTO or UN guidance.
Treat the whole route as live, not only the Strait. The entries run from the northern Gulf off Iraq and Saudi Arabia, off Musandam and through the Strait, to the Gulf of Oman coast off the UAE and Oman, and include vessels at anchor.
Plan around what the log shows, since nobody has been named: unknown projectiles, an uncrewed aerial vehicle and a small-boat attack.
Read the log on the day of tasking. Some entries arrive late, and the picture has changed every few days this month.
Know the reporting route before the transit. UKMTO asks vessels to report suspicious activity to it, so the master and any embarked security team should agree who reports and how before entering the area.
