Oman’s Royal Navy has rescued 25 crew members from a commercial vessel that caught fire after being targeted off the coast of Musandam, amid heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The evacuation took place on Friday, October 30, after the Panama-flagged merchant vessel RITI was attacked approximately 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre. The attack caused a fire onboard the vessel.
Omani authorities said all 25 crew members were evacuated and provided with necessary medical care. However, the statement did not identify those responsible for the attack or provide details about the extent of the damage to the ship.
The incident came amid reports of other maritime attacks in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said another vessel, located about 40 nautical miles south of Iran’s Lavan Island, was struck by an unidentified projectile on Friday, triggering a fire. Its crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact reported.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said three oil tankers had been stopped while attempting to navigate what Tehran described as unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards claimed the vessels encountered incidents or struck naval mines, although the claims have not been independently verified.
The developments have further heightened concerns over commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, which normally handles about one-fifth of global oil supplies. Iran has restricted maritime traffic through the strait amid its conflict with the United States and Israel, while Washington has maintained a counterblockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said American forces had cleared the internationally recognised primary transit routes of Iranian sea mines and would remain in the area to ensure safe passage. The latest incidents, however, underline the continuing risks facing vessels operating in and around the Gulf.