Ship fire in Strait of Hormuz sparks crew rescue and raises regional tensions

On 20 July a commercial vessel caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile about 15 km (8 nm) northwest of Kumzar, Oman, in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the blaze, reported that the crew were safely evacuated and rescued by a tug, and warned ships to transit the area with caution.

The incident involved the Malta‑flagged Panamax tanker Kavomaleas, managed by Greek firm Dynacom, which suffered engine‑room fire and was left adrift. A second vessel, the Liberian‑flagged VLCC Acheloos, was also hit but remained afloat. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed two tankers exploded after attempting an “unsafe southern route”, accusing the United States of directing vessels into danger.

The attacks have prompted a sharp drop in maritime traffic through the strait, with ship‑to‑ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman falling to just a few pairs in recent days, and super‑tanker passages reduced to about two per day. The escalation follows a series of US airstrikes against Iranian targets and Iranian retaliatory missile strikes, heightening the risk of broader conflict in the region.