Sinokor VLCC hit in Strait of Hormuz, four injured
Four crew members were injured when a Liberian-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier transited the Strait of Hormuz on 10 November. The Sinokor VLCC, named Fujairah Energy, was struck by a projectile while moving from the Arabian Gulf to Dubai. India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the attack on social media platform X.
Hazards in the shipping lane
Four of the 22 people on board required medical attention after the incident. One crew member, an Indian national, suffered minor injuries and was taken ashore for examination. The remaining 18 were reported safe. The Fujairah Energy is the eighth Sinokor vessel attacked in the waterway since July.
Iran has increased its activity in the Strait of Hormuz starting in late September. This pattern of daily attacks continues to disrupt maritime traffic in one of the world’s most important shipping routes. The United States Central Command reported that three additional tankers were struck during this period.
Sinokor has become a primary operator in the crude shuttle trade between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The company holds a majority share of VLCC transits through the strategic chokepoint. Lloyd’s List Intelligence data indicates Sinokor accounted for 47% of all Hormuz VLCC transits in September and exceeded 50% in the first ten days of October.
Other vessels targeted
Two other incidents occurred in the same timeframe. The Barbados-flagged crude tanker Sea 1 was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle approximately 19 nautical miles northeast of Limah on 10 November. All crew members were reported safe after that strike.
On 11 November, the Saudi-flagged tanker NCC Fajr was involved in a possible attack. Details regarding the location or the extent of damage to the vessel were not immediately available. Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all crew, including three Indian nationals, were safe.
