An incident northeast of Qalhat underscores vulnerabilities in alternate Gulf routes as US sanctions on Iran take effect.
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 40 nautical miles northeast of Qalhat, Oman, at 2104 UTC on 13 July, hours before a US naval blockade of Iran was set to begin. The attack targeted the engine room but caused no crew injuries or environmental damage, according to reports from the vessel’s master.
The location, on the Gulf of Oman, is critical as regional players like the UAE have relied on it as a safer alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The incident challenges assumptions that rerouting cargo east of the strait mitigates risk, adding to concerns over escalating tensions in the region.
Oil markets had already priced in a risk premium due to this week’s broader escalation. The attack is likely to heighten caution among insurers and shippers, regardless of whether vessels transit Hormuz or its eastern bypass routes.