A collision involving three ships occurred near the busy Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel. United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities rescued 24 people following the accident.
According to British news agency Reuters, on Tuesday, one ship collided with two other vessels close to the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the British maritime security firm “Embry” had reported an incident near the UAE coast.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The collision happened about 22 nautical miles east of the UAE’s port city of Khor Fakkan. However, Embry confirmed that the incident was not related to any security threat.
This maritime accident took place as tensions between Iran and Israel entered their fifth day. The conflict intensified after Israel launched large-scale attacks aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear weapons development. Both countries have since exchanged attacks.
Maritime sources told Reuters that there has been an increase in electronic interference with navigation systems of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region recently. This disruption is affecting the smooth passage of vessels in this crucial waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is critical for global oil supply, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil passing through it. According to Vertix data, from early 2022 to last month, between 17.8 million and 20.8 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and fuel have transited this route daily.
So far, neither the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal has responded to Reuters’ request for comments on the collision.