Oil tanker attacked by unknown object in Oman waters, Middle East shipping safety risks continue to rise

      On June 13th, the UK Office for Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a maritime safety alert, stating that an offshore crude oil tanker traveling about 11 kilometers east of Oman was attacked by a flying missile, with the strike located in the port area of the ship. After emergency investigation and disposal by the crew, only local structural damage was found on the hull, and the cargo oil tanks were intact without any damage. There were no incidents of crude oil leakage or water pollution; All crew members on board are safe and there are no records of injuries. After a brief maintenance and evaluation, the vessel involved in the incident maintained its original course and speed and continued to perform cross-border shipping tasks without anchoring or stopping.

      In the past two months, there have been more than ten consecutive incidents of merchant ships being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and the northern Arabian Sea, targeting various types of shipping vessels such as ultra large crude oil tankers, refined oil transport ships, and ocean going container ships. In order to avoid dangerous waters and reduce the risk of being attacked, several international leading shipping companies have adjusted their navigation plans: many ships have given up the shortcut near the coast of the strait and chosen to detour around the outer open sea route of the Arabian Peninsula, with an average increase of more than 20% in sailing mileage, longer sailing time, and synchronous increase in fuel consumption.

       At the same time, there has been a significant increase in investment in ship security, with ocean going ship owners generally adding additional maritime security personnel, installing ship protection facilities, and activating 24-hour radar surveillance monitoring. The shipping insurance market has reacted strongly, with a significant increase in premium rates for ships on Middle Eastern routes, and insurance premiums for some high-risk sections rising by over 40%. Under the superposition of multiple costs, the crude oil sea freight rates and container foreign trade freight rates from the Middle East to East Asia and Europe continue to rise. The global energy supply chain and cross-border trade logistics costs are passively rising, and the pressure on raw material procurement and shipping costs for many foreign trade enterprises and refineries has significantly increased. The Global Shipping Association and maritime departments of multiple countries have jointly issued high-risk navigation warnings, reminding passing ships to strengthen security plans and synchronize maritime dynamic information in real time.