DUBAI / LONDON August 3, 2026 – An oil tanker reported hearing an explosion in close proximity while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz late on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, though the vessel and its crew remained unharmed.
According to UKMTO Advisory 103-26 issued at 2037 UTC on August 2, the incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The ship’s master reported the explosion nearby. Authorities are investigating the cause, and vessels in the area have been advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
This is the third tanker-related security incident reported by UKMTO near the Omani entrance to the strait since Saturday. Earlier reports included a projectile strike that damaged an LNG carrier’s engine room about 11 nautical miles northeast of Limah and a separate near-miss involving a large splash and explosion roughly 21 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, in which the vessel was not hit.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes, has seen sharply reduced commercial traffic amid ongoing regional tensions. Ship-tracking data showed only single-digit daily transits in recent days, far below pre-conflict averages, as operators exercise extreme caution.
Iranian state media circulated images purporting to show a burning tanker and claimed forces had targeted vessels using routes along the Omani coast. Independent satellite fire-detection data has not confirmed a major blaze from the latest report, and UKMTO has not attributed the explosion to any party.
The latest advisory comes against a backdrop of fragile diplomatic efforts. Recent statements from U.S. officials have referenced negotiations aimed at fully reopening the waterway, though maritime security agencies continue to rate the regional threat level as severe.
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