The UK's Office for Maritime Trade Operations (OMTO) reported on the 23rd that an oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile while exiting the Strait of Hormuz and continued on its way to its next port of call. The OTO's weekly report released the same day showed that vessel traffic through the strait from the 15th to the 21st was lower than the previous week.
The report stated that the attack occurred at 17:15 UTC on the 22nd (1:15 Beijing time on the 23rd), approximately 7 nautical miles (about 13 kilometers) northeast of Lima, Oman. The report did not disclose the ship's name, flag, or any casualties. It stated that an investigation is underway and advised passing vessels to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
The OTO's weekly report on the 23rd showed that from the 15th to the 21st, the agency recorded 241 vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a decrease of approximately 5.1% from the previous week's 254, and about 70% lower than pre-conflict levels.
The report, citing an assessment by the Joint Maritime Information Centre, stated that the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains "serious," meaning that the possibility of ships being attacked is very high.
