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Iran Tries to Intimidate Shipping With Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

Skylight
Iran-linked tanker Skylight on fire off Oman (Omani social media)

Published Mar 1, 2026 12:27 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Iranian authorities are attempting to close the Straits of Hormuz by warning traffic over Channel 16 that the Straits are closed. When these attempts failed, the Iranians resorted to mounting attacks, and three vessels having been struck so far as of March 1.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre in Dubai issued a warning at 0700UTC on February 28 that the Iranian authorities were contacting ships on Channel 16 and warning them that the Straits were closed. The UKMTO however said that such calls were not an authorized means of closing the Straits.

The UKMTO recommended merchant traffic proceed through the TSS, but exercising caution and keeping a distance from naval vessels providing a protective presence in the Straits. It acknowledged the situation was fast-changing.

A Kpler marine traffic playback of traffic late on February 28 showed however that there was still heavy eastbound traffic using the Straits throughout the day, although not too many ships were trying to use the northern, in-bound channel of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).

But on March 1, AIS data showed the area of the TSS largely devoid of traffic, with heavy concentrations of vessels at anchor off Dubai and Khor Fakkan, on the approaches to the west and east sides of the TSS (respectively). 

AIS data for the Strait at 1730 hours GMT, March 1: light traffic in the TSS, unusual concentrations of vessels awaiting orders off Dubai, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Limah (Chart courtesy MarineTraffic)

The Omani Maritime Security Centre reported that the Palau-flagged oil tanker Skylight (IMO 9396737) had been hit five nautical off the Musandam peninsula, well within Omani territorial waters, injuring four crew and prompting the evacuation by the Royal Navy of Oman of 20 others.

The Skylight was an odd target for the Iranians to choose as it has been previously sanctioned for providing bunkering support to dark fleet tankers. UKMTO subsequently reported two further incidents, one in the western approaches to the Straits of Hormuz, off Ras al Khaimah, and another - identified as the MKD Vyom - on the eastern approaches, 50nm north of Muscat; in both cases, damage did not prevent either ship proceeding on course. 

It was also reported that the commercial port of Duqm had earlier been attacked with two drones, a huge upset for Oman which has spent decades trying to dampen regional tensions through its mediation efforts with Iran. One drone damaged an accommodation Portacabin, injuring an expatriate worker, while the other fell on waste ground causing no damage or injuries.