A tanker was struck by a drone while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the British government agency that monitors maritime security in the region.

The incident was reported at 15:52 UTC on Thursday, UKMTO said in a social media post.

"UKMTO has received reports from Military Authorities that a tanker was struck by an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) whilst conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz," the agency said.

"The vessel was subject to minor damage, crew are reported as safe and accounted for and no environmental impact has been reported," UKMTO added.

The waterway, which separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world's most heavily trafficked energy chokepoints: the US Energy Information Administration estimates that roughly a fifth of globally traded oil and a significant share of the world's liquefied natural gas exports transit the strait each year, making it a key artery linking Persian Gulf producers to global markets.

Commercial operators typically rely on UKMTO advisories, alongside guidance from naval coalitions, when assessing routing and security measures for transits of the region, and further updates from the agency are expected as the incident is investigated.

The strike comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following the ongoing US-Iran war, with commercial shipping facing increased security risks in the region.

Source: Ship & Bunker