The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to deteriorate. Over the past day, multiple commercial vessels have been targeted in a series of serious attacks. Two tankers were abandoned by their crews after being struck by projectiles, while the cost of transiting one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes has surged due to escalating war-risk insurance premiums.
According to the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the product tanker Kaifan, operated by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, issued a distress call after being hit by either a drone or a missile approximately eight nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman. The strike triggered a fire in the engine room, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel and evacuate in a lifeboat.
Just hours earlier, the tanker Kavomaleas, owned by Greece’s Dynacom Tankers, was also attacked near Kumzar, Oman. Following two direct hits, a fire broke out on board, prompting the crew to evacuate safely. In a separate incident, another commercial vessel reported damage to its steering system after an event off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
The attacks come amid the ongoing escalation between the United States and Iran. War-risk insurance premiums for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have already climbed to 10% of a ship’s value, dramatically increasing operating costs for shipowners.
The growing danger is also placing unprecedented pressure on seafarers. South Korea’s Sinokor Group has begun offering crews an additional payment equivalent to six months’ salary for completing a single voyage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts warn that any further escalation could disrupt global oil supplies, drive up maritime logistics costs, and intensify volatility across international energy markets.
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