Explosion near Qeshm and reported drone downing renew shipping concerns

Qeshm, Iran. Shipping risks at two key Middle Eastern maritime passages returned to focus on Wednesday after an unexplained explosion near Qeshm Island and a Houthi claim that it had downed a Saudi drone near Bab el-Mandeb.

There was no indication that the incidents were connected, but both added pressure on waterways already disrupted by the wider conflict.

Explosion near Qeshm

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that an explosion was heard near Qeshm, in the southern province of Hormozgan, apparently from the direction of the sea.

No rocket or missile was reported to have struck the island, and there were no immediate reports of damage. Local authorities had not provided an explanation for the blast by Wednesday morning.

Hormuz traffic and vessel attacks

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to a fraction of its normal level. Reuters shipping data showed that only two commodity vessels crossed the strait on Monday, compared with 10 the previous day.

Before the conflict began on February 28, about 125 large commercial vessels, including tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships, typically used the waterway daily. The figures do not include ships travelling with Automatic Identification System transponders switched off, which vessels can do to reduce the risk of detection.

Reuters also reported separate attacks on two vessels crossing Hormuz. The Isle of Man-flagged crude tanker LR Stephanie was hit by an unidentified projectile, leaving two crew members with minor injuries. The Liberia-flagged LPG carrier Al Maryah was struck while leaving the strait. Both vessels continued without requiring towing.

IMO warning

The International Maritime Organisation said last week that it had verified 80 attacks on merchant vessels in and around Hormuz since February 28, resulting in at least 22 seafarer deaths and injuries to many others.

IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez urged governments not to allow wider conflicts to become a pretext for attacks on merchant ships and crews, telling member states to “stop attacking merchant ships and seafarers”.