{
  "id": 17828274,
  "title": "Attacks on ships in Strait of Hormuz 'could be higher than official count'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/attacks-on-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-could-be-higher-than-official-17828274",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T16:54:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/02/attacks-on-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-could-be-higher-than-official-count/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reports indicate that attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz may be more frequent than official records suggest, as owners of some vessels fail to declare incidents, according to Arsenio Dominguez, head of the UN's maritime agency. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) recorded at least 123 attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters since the US-Iran conflict commenced in late February. However, Dominguez suggested that the true number could be higher due to ships operating under false flags or fraudulent registries, which usually do not report attacks. These \"ghosting\" ships and those with fraudulent registries are contributing to the difficulty in obtaining accurate figures, Dominguez said during the opening of the IMO's annual council session. Both ghosting ships and those with fraudulent registries often evade detection, particularly when they are under the Iranian flag. The IMO has also been criticized for not enforcing a toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which is controlled by Iran. However, Dominguez expressed willingness to consider a proposal by Iran and Oman that would allow shipping companies to voluntarily contribute to the cost of passage, similar to a contribution system in the Strait of Malacca to deter piracy. At present, about 350 to 400 ships remain stranded in the Arabian Gulf following the onset of the war, and renewed hostilities in the Red Sea have also led to an increase in piracy off the coasts of Somalia and Aden. Despite warnings from the IMO that crossing the Strait of Hormuz is not safe, an estimated 12 ships pass through the Strait daily.",
  "summary": "Attacks on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz are more common than official figures suggest, as some go undeclared by the ship's owners, the head of the UN's maritime agency warned on Monday. At least 123 ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and neighbouring water since the US-Iran war began in late February, according to the International Maritime Organisation. But the real figure…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Negotiators ‘braced for worst’ over US-Iran talks to reopen strait of Hormuz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/negotiators-braced-for-worst-over-us-iran-talks-to-reopen-strait-of",
        "published": "2026-11-01T17:49:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Vessel struck near Strait of Hormuz: maritime agency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/vessel-struck-near-strait-of-hormuz-maritime-agency",
        "published": "2026-11-02T19:31:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}