A vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz on 18 August 2026, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident damaged the vessel’s engine room and resulted in a crew casualty.
UKMTO recorded the report at 01:35 UTC after receiving information from the vessel’s Company Security Officer. The remaining crew were being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard following the strike.
The maritime security agency did not provide details identifying the vessel. It also did not state whether the reported crew casualty involved a death or an injury. Authorities were investigating the incident, while no environmental impact had been reported at the time of the UKMTO warning.
The incident occurred while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted. Reuters reported that vessel crossings were still in single digits, compared with more than 130 per day before the current conflict.
AP reported that Iran has restricted shipping through the strait following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February. The Strait of Hormuz carried roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil supplies before the conflict.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.
