Tug Selat Storm Struck and Sinking in Strait of Hormuz

The offshore supply tug Selat Storm was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on 1 November 2026, northwest of the Musandam Peninsula, and was reported to be partially sinking.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said the strike happened at around 15:00 UTC. A passing merchant ship relayed the tug's distress call to UKMTO. The status of those aboard was not reported.

The Panama-flagged tug (roughly 1,300 deadweight tons, operated by Selat Marine Services) was the third targeted near the strait since the conflict with Iran began. No group has claimed the attack. Regional security analysts have attributed similar strikes to Iran's IRGC, though no independent confirmation of responsibility for this specific incident has been reported.

The attack came the same day the RITI, a Panama-flagged crude tanker, was evacuated off Oman after being struck near the Musandam Peninsula. Three days earlier, a limpet mine disabled a tanker near Khasab in the first confirmed limpet strike since the conflict began, a tactic that points to broader targeting of commercial shipping across the strait.

MarineRadar tracked 173 unique devices in this area over the past 48 hours.