Sonangol tanker damaged as Strait of Hormuz transits plunge

Image: UKMTO

While anchored near Khor al-Zubai, Iraq, the Bahamas flagged crude oil tanker Sonangol Namibe yesterday reported hull damage after being approached by a small boat. It is the latest in a string of incidents that have reduced transits through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle.

“The small boat approached the port side of the tanker and a short time later a loud bang was heard,” said a statement released by its operator, Sonangol Marine Services, a subsidiary of Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol. “The crew reports that a port ballast tank is losing water which suggests some form of hull breach, but the ship remains stable and safely afloat.”

Windward notes that previously eight vessels had been confirmed struck since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center:

● Skylight (IMO 9330020).
● MKD Vyom (IMO 9284386).
● Sea La Donna (IMO 9380532).
● Hercules Star (IMO 9916135).
● Stena Imperative (IMO 9666077).
● Athe Nova (IMO 9188116).
● Ocean Electra (IMO 9402782).
● Safeen Prestige (IMO 9593517).

Windward AI says that the Sonangol Namibe incident is the northernmost reported vessel attack in the current conflict environment.In an overview of the current situation, Windward notes that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely constrained on March 4, with only five total crossings recorded, confirming that transit activity remains far below baseline levels.

At the same time, regional traffic patterns shifted unevenly across other corridors. Bab el- Mandeb crossings surged to 38 transits, sharply above the recent weekly average, while Suez Canal activity dropped to 23 crossings, falling well below trend. Cape of Good Hope diversions remained elevated at 87 transits, consistent with the structural rerouting patterns established since the onset of Operation Epic Fury.

“Operational disruption is increasingly visible in Gulf port exception indicators,” says Windward. “Jebel Ali and Khalifa both showed significant exception activity across late departures, rollovers, and transshipment delays, reinforcing the widening logistics impact of chokepoint disruption and elevated threat conditions.”

• Download the full Windward AI report HERE