The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported the apparent hijacking of a vessel at anchorage near Fujairah, close to the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to UKMTO, the incident was reported at about 05:45 UTC on 14 May by the vessel’s company security officer. The ship was reportedly boarded and taken over by “unauthorised personnel” while anchored approximately 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, UAE.
The vessel’s identity has not been disclosed, but the company security officer reported that the ship was subsequently underway toward Iranian territorial waters.
UKMTO said it is investigating the incident and has advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.
The incident comes amid sharply increased maritime tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces and paramilitary flotillas have intensified operations in recent days.
According to maritime intelligence company Windward, more than 340 Iranian speedboats were active across different sectors of the strait on 13 May. Most activity was concentrated in the northern and central shipping corridors.
At the same time, Iran has expanded its claimed area of control around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media and IRGC officials recently published new maps showing a much broader “operational zone” stretching toward Fujairah and along parts of the UAE coastline. Iranian officials now describe the strait as a “vast operational area” rather than the narrower shipping corridor previously recognised.
The area where the missing vessel was last reported appears to fall within the newly claimed Iranian control zone. Iranian authorities have also introduced designated transit corridors and increased monitoring of merchant traffic moving through the region.
For crews operating in the region, ship security levels remain elevated, particularly for vessels at anchorage or moving at slow speed near congested traffic separation schemes. Maritime security agencies continue to advise masters to maintain strict watchkeeping, restrict deck access where possible, and keep armed security protocols and citadel procedures ready for immediate activation.
