Vessel struck near Oman amid 'digital darkness' for tankers in Hormuz

A vessel sustained damage from an unidentified projectile about 18 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident resulted in a fire, which has since been extinguished. UKMTO confirmed that the vessel and its crew are safe and reported no environmental damage.

Details regarding the type of vessel and the origin of the projectile remain undisclosed. This event occurs amidst heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.

In parallel, a significant number of tankers, at least 56 according to vessel-tracking service TankerTrackers, are operating without standard digital tracking as they traverse the Strait of Hormuz. TankerTrackers described this as "digital darkness," suggesting these vessels are masking their movements to support oil exports from Arab nations bordering Iran. Some reports also indicate covert ship-to-ship transfers are occurring in the Gulf of Oman.

This practice allows oil shipments to continue despite the increased risks associated with commercial shipping through the strategically vital waterway. The use of "digital darkness" and potential covert transfers highlight the ongoing challenges and security concerns for maritime traffic in the region.

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The vessel and its crew were reported safe and no environmental impact had been reported.