Tanker struck while anchored off Fujairah

Written by Nick Blenkey

Image: UKMTO

Although CENTCOM continues to find and eliminate Iranian missile launchers, the regime continues its attacks against its neighbors — including Fujairah, UAE, where there have been multiple strikes on the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.

Yesterday, UKMTO received a report of an incident 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah.

“A tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile whilst at anchor,” said UKMTO. “Minor structural damage reported. No injuries to crew. No environmental impact reported.”

In an update today, UKMTO said: “The CSO has reported that investigations indicate that the vessel was subjected to falling debris from interceptions in the vicinity of the vessel. The vessel received minor structural damage however all crew are confirmed as safe.”

Several reports identify the vessel as the Kuwait-flagged LPG tanker Gas Al Ahmadiah. However, in its latest daily report on the situation, Windward AI said that it attempted to locate the vessel; “however, the presence of a GPS jamming zone approximately 23 nautical miles off Fujairah limited the ability to accurately identify or track the affected vessel.”

“This event reinforces the continued presence of low-intensity, high-frequency threat activity in proximity to key Gulf anchorage areas,” noted Windward.

Windward’s current threat assessment:

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains near collapse, with only two crossings recorded on March 16 and overall activity approximately 97% below normal levels.

Iran is exerting increasing control over maritime transit, with vessels re-routing through Iranian territorial waters, indicating the emergence of a selective, permission-based transit model.

Maritime security risks remain active in the Gulf, highlighted by a confirmed projectile strike on a tanker near Fujairah, reinforcing continued threats to anchored and transiting vessels.

Sanctioned and dark fleet activity continues to operate within the region, supported by AIS suppression and deceptive routing practices.

Iran is actively developing alternative export pathways, as demonstrated by crude shipments from the Kooh Mobarak terminal located outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Port activity patterns remain unstable, with signs of both congestion and localized easing, indicating ongoing disruption to regional logistics networks.

Iranian port activity shows signs of disruption or redistribution, with no commercial or military vessels observed at Bandar Abbas as of March 15, indicating a potential drawdown or repositioning of assets.

Anomalous AIS behavior observed outside the Gulf, including prolonged “Not Under Command” broadcasts, highlights continued uncertainty and potential signal manipulation in global maritime operations.

Maritime security risks are expanding beyond the Gulf, with confirmed kinetic activity in the Black Sea highlighting a growing multi-theater threat environment.

Global oil flows remain elevated, with nearly 200 million barrels of Russian oil in transit, reinforcing sustained pressure on global shipping and energy logistics systems.