Crew Abandons Kuwaiti Tanker After Projectile Strike in Strait of Hormuz

A Kuwaiti tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday after being struck by an unknown projectile, and the crew abandoned it.

The tanker is the Kaifan, owned by Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. It was about eight nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, when it was hit. A fire broke out. The crew boarded lifeboats and all were reported safe.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the incident.

The attack is the latest strike on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz since fighting between the United States and Iran resumed in early July, following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement. The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and carries a large share of the world's seaborne oil exports. It has been the site of repeated attacks on tankers over the past several weeks, and traffic through it has fallen sharply.

The Houthis in Yemen declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia the day before, threatening a second major shipping route at the same time.

For background on shipping through this region, read about the Strait of Hormuz’s role in sea trade, how shipping routes change during conflicts, and tracking oil tankers on MarineRadar.