Two very large crude carriers carrying Saudi oil were struck by projectiles within minutes of each other while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, according to maritime security and vessel-tracking reports.
The first vessel, the Saudi-flagged MV Sidr, was hit at about 19:52 UTC roughly 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The 300,759-dwt VLCC is operated by Bahri. Marisks reported that the tanker later anchored near the Omani coast.
The second vessel, the Liberian-flagged, 320,780-dwt MV Senegal Prosperity, was reportedly hit several minutes later about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab. The VLCC is operated by South Korea-based Sinokor.
UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that three projectiles struck the tanker’s port side, damaging the engine room and a ballast tank. UKMTO said communications were lost and the vessel was believed to be dead in the water and listing, with the crew subsequently rescued by local authorities.
Kpler data indicate that both VLCCs had loaded approximately two million barrels of Saudi crude at the Juaymah terminal during the previous week.
The incidents come amid continued restrictions on navigation in the strait and renewed military confrontation between Iran and the United States. Vessel-tracking data indicate that traffic remains substantially below normal levels: Kpler recorded only five confirmed crossings on Monday, including just one outbound vessel.
