The facts
UKMTO Warning 191-26 said that at 1509 UTC on 1 November the master of one merchant vessel relayed a VHF Channel 16 Mayday from another vessel reporting it had been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. [1]
UKMTO’s 192-26 warning said that at 2347 UTC a southeast-bound tanker was hit on its port side by two unknown projectiles 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia; all crew were accounted for and no environmental impact was reported. [2][3][5][6]
Maritime Executive, citing maritime-security consultancy Vanguard Tech, identified the first vessel as UAE-owned offshore tug Selat Storm and reported it was partially sinking. UKMTO did not name it; the identification and condition remain attributed to the consultancy. [4][5]
The actors responsible for either strike and any connection between the two incidents remain unknown; no checked source reported a closure or wider shipping disruption. [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Still unconfirmed
- UKMTO did not identify the vessel in the Hormuz Mayday report or state its crew status. Selat Storm identification and partial-sinking report come from Vanguard Tech as cited by Maritime Executive and Seatrade Maritime.
- The tanker’s name and flag, the attacker or weapon responsible, and whether the two incidents are connected remain unknown.
- No closure or broader shipping disruption was confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 2 Nov 2026, 07:02 UTC.
The two incidents are kept separate. The 191-26 primary warning confirms only the Mayday relay and reported projectile strike. The 192-26 official post is reproduced in Shafaq News; its direct retrieval was blocked. Vanguard Tech’s identification and partial-sinking report for Selat Storm remain attributed through Maritime Executive and Seatrade. No source identifies an attacker, establishes linkage, or confirms wider route disruption.
- UKMTO Warning 191-26
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations · Primary source · 1 Nov 2026
Opened official warning PDF; it reports the Mayday relay and unknown-projectile strike at 1509 UTC without identifying the vessel or crew status.
- UKMTO Operations Centre post on tanker strike east of Ras Al Khafji
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations · Primary source · 1 Nov 2026
The original post text was read as an embedded official UKMTO post in Shafaq News (source 3); direct X retrieval returned 403. The post gives the 2347 UTC time, location, tanker direction, damage, crew status and no-spill report.
- Two projectiles strike vessel off Saudi coast
Shafaq News · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened report embeds the UKMTO Operations Centre post; supports the second incident and preserves unknown vessel identity/flag.
- Offshore Tug Hit in Latest Attack in Strait of Hormuz
The Maritime Executive · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Opened report attributes the Selat Storm identification and partial-sinking assessment to maritime-security consultancy Vanguard Tech; it does not establish crew status.
- Tanker hit off Saudi and offshore tug struck in Hormuz
Seatrade Maritime · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened report covers both incidents and corroborates the tanker details; its tug identification/condition relies on Vanguard Tech, not separate onboard confirmation.
- Vessel struck by projectiles off Saudi Arabia, UKMTO says
Iran International · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened report corroborates the UKMTO tanker warning; no perpetrator is identified.