Projectiles Strike VLCC Grit in Strait of Hormuz, No Injuries Reported

The Barbados-flagged tanker VLCC Grit was struck in its engine room by two unidentified projectiles 14 nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, at 19:00 UTC on November 3. According to the British maritime trade organization UKMTO, the entire crew was safe and no pollution was observed following the attack.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the crude oil tanker Grit, with a length overall of 332.07 meters and a beam of 58.04 meters. According to Pole Star Global, the vessel is 23 years old, is operated by Yearn Marine, and its registered owner is Guangjie Shipping, based in Hong Kong. The VLCC was also listed on the non-compliant vessel blacklist maintained by Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA).

The incident adds to a series of confirmed attacks in the region since the beginning of November. On November 1, the Panama-flagged offshore tug Selat Storm and the Liberian-flagged tanker Largo Atom were struck, with the latter hit by two unidentified projectiles roughly 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia. Sea Trade Maritime added that the tanker Era S was also struck that same day in the Strait of Hormuz. On November 2, the India-flagged vessel Al Jusufi was attacked near Oman, resulting in one crew member killed and 13 rescued.

The attack on the Grit came just days after the vessel was placed on Iran's blacklist, amid what one trade publication described as a tightening of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.