Tanker hit by explosive-laden small boat in Strait of Hormuz; engine-room fire disabled vessel, crew safe

Summary

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a vessel transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz was on fire after an incident about 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab, with the cause, crew status and extent of damage initially unknown. In a later update on Friday, UKMTO said the vessel was a tanker that had been hit by a small boat with two explosive devices attached to its hull. The blasts sparked a fire in the engine room that temporarily disabled it. UKMTO said the crew were safe, there was no environmental impact and the fire had been extinguished, and the tanker was continuing to its next port of call. There was no immediate answer as to who was behind the attack.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   30 Oct 2026, 01:10 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that a vessel transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz was on fire on Thursday, 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab, with the cause unknown, and that UKMTO said the crew status and extent of damage were also unknown.

2. Middle East Eye

   30 Oct 2026, 04:37 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports, citing a UKMTO update on Friday, that a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a small boat with two explosive devices attached to its hull, causing blasts and an engine-room fire that temporarily disabled it, with the crew safe and the fire extinguished.