Pirates Threaten Strait of Hormuz, Warning Shots Fired

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported that maritime pirates have threatened a ship at the north end of the Strait of Hormuz. This is the closest-ever attack to the waterway, which is responsible for 20 percent of globally traded oil.

The report details the attack as follows: Warning shots were fired by armed private guards onboard the container ship in an attempt to discourage three pirate boats chasing the vessel. Again, the incident occurred in the most northern area of the Gulf of Oman.

The reported February 25th pirate attack and activity in that specific area has many concerned that they are moving extremely deep into the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. This is the nearest attack to the Strait of Hormuz, according to an IMB review of the last three years’ reported attacks.

The European Union has not officially recorded this incident as an attack, as there was no exchange of gunfire. Also, the EU NAVFOR would not reveal the vessel’s name in accordance with military policy.

Iran has threatened to block shipments through this strait, as Western authorities have come up with newly imposed sanctions in an effort to stop the country’s nuclear program. An estimated 35 percent of all crude shipped by sea and a third of the world's liquefied natural gas passes through the strait which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. About 17 million barrels a day transits the Hormuz, according to the United States Energy Department.

So far this year, the IMB has reported two attacks in the Gulf of Oman. In 2011, there was one reported attack off Oman’s coastline. Piracy cost the shipping industry and governments $6.9 billion last year, including $2.7 billion in extra fuel to speed up through the area and $1.27 billion on military operations, says the One Earth Future Foundation.