Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
ADNOC Logistics & Services has confirmed that one seafarer was killed and eight others were injured after two very large crude carriers were struck by projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks hit Al Bahyah and Mombasa B in the early hours of Tuesday, July 14, causing significant damage and fires aboard both vessels. The incidents add a further layer of operational risk to one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Al Bahyah is owned by ADNOC L&S, while Mombasa B is operated by the company under a time charter arrangement.
Fatality reported aboard Mombasa B
One Indian seafarer aboard Mombasa B was killed during the attack, according to information reported by Reuters. Eight other crew members were injured, including four who sustained serious injuries.
Six of the injured seafarers were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian nationals.
The confirmed casualty figures correct earlier reports suggesting that all crew members had been accounted for without injury. The human impact now represents the most serious confirmed consequence of the incident, alongside the damage sustained by the two tankers.
Fires broke out aboard both vessels following the strikes. ADNOC L&S said the crews managed to bring the fires under control and that the company was continuing to work with emergency responders and other relevant stakeholders.
The company has not released detailed information on the current condition of the vessels, the scale of structural damage or whether either tanker remains capable of operating under its own power.
UAE attributes attacks to Iranian missiles
The UAE Ministry of Defence said Iranian cruise missiles struck the vessels while they were sailing in the southern traffic lane of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry said the attacks occurred within Omani territorial waters, adding an important jurisdictional dimension to an incident already affecting international shipping movements.
Reuters reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately said it had attacked two supertankers. Its statement did not identify the vessels by name.
The distinction matters. The UAE government attributed the strikes to Iranian cruise missiles, while the Iranian statement confirmed attacks on two tankers without directly naming Al Bahyah or Mombasa B.
For operators assessing the route, the immediate question is no longer whether regional tensions could interrupt commercial shipping. It is how many shipowners, charterers and crews will remain willing to enter the Gulf while vessels are being targeted in recognised traffic lanes.
Strait traffic falls sharply
Shipping activity through the strait had already fallen before the attacks. Reuters reported that only five oil, chemical and dry bulk vessels crossed the waterway on Monday.
No oil tankers or liquefied natural gas carriers entered the strait during that period.
The reduction is significant because the Strait of Hormuz serves as the main maritime outlet for oil and gas exports from several Gulf producers. Even a limited decline in tanker traffic can delay loading programmes, disrupt vessel schedules and create uncertainty over the timing of crude deliveries.
The attacks are expected to discourage additional vessels from entering the Gulf, particularly while shipowners and charterers assess crew safety, vessel exposure and the availability of emergency support.
Unlike congestion at a port, where delays can often be measured in days, a security threat in a narrow shipping corridor can alter sailing decisions almost immediately. A vessel approaching the strait must either proceed, wait outside the area or seek instructions from owners, charterers and insurers.
Crude markets respond to disruption risk
Prompt Middle East crude prices strengthened following the attacks, according to Reuters, as traders assessed uncertainty surrounding future cargo deliveries.
The market reaction reflected concern about whether scheduled shipments could reach buyers on time rather than any confirmed loss of export capacity.
No official repair programme has been announced for Al Bahyah or Mombasa B. ADNOC L&S has also not disclosed whether cargo operations, inspections or salvage support will be required.
The company said it remained engaged with emergency responders and stakeholders following the attacks.
