October sees record surge in ship attacks in Strait of Hormuz
October has recorded the highest number of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waterways, according to the Washington Institute.
In October, the Strait of Hormuz has experienced a record surge in attacks on commercial vessels, with 28 confirmed and reported incidents this month and 113 since the US-Iran conflict began on February 28, according to the Washington Institute. This marks a significant increase from previous months, with the International Maritime Organization recording 120 incidents in the region during the same period.
The attacks have primarily targeted very large crude carriers, with over 30 ships damaged, including 11 in October alone, representing around 3.5% of the global fleet of this class. The rise in attacks is attributed to shipowners' willingness to load cargoes inside the Gulf due to high daily shipping rates and regional producers offering larger discounts.
Iranian officials have reportedly increased attacks to slow the recovery of shipments and maintain pressure on global energy markets ahead of the US midterm elections in November.
Brief written by urgent.news from Ajel English's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
