Iran War Confirmed Vessel Attacks and Maritime Infrastructure Strikes

Number of confirmed incidents: 30 (20 vessels and 10 oil, gas, and port facilities). 

At a Glance

• Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, at least 21 maritime incidents have been recorded, including 20 commercial vessels and one offshore infrastructure asset that have been attacked or involved in confirmed near-miss incidents across the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Bahrain, and the Northern Arabian Gulf.
• Tankers and bulk carriers account for most incidents, indicating that core commercial shipping lanes remain the primary exposure zone.
• Several of the most serious events involved fires, structural damage, evacuations, and fatalities, including strikes during anchorage, transit, drydock, and ship-to-ship operations.
• The incident pattern shows that risk is not limited to one operating profile — anchored vessels, drifting ships, transiting vessels, and offshore infrastructure have all been affected.

A Growing Attack Pattern Across Commercial Shipping

Since the start of the Iran war, maritime security incidents have expanded across the commercial operating environment, affecting vessels at anchor, in transit, in drydock, and during ship-to-ship operations. The pattern is no longer limited to isolated strikes. It now reflects a sustained threat environment spanning the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Bahrain, and the Northern Arabian Gulf.

The current phase of the conflict shows a clear concentration on commercial vessels, with targeting behavior increasingly reflecting ownership nexus and operational alignment rather than vessel type alone.

This environment also extends beyond commercial shipping into offshore infrastructure, with confirmed strikes and persistent activity observed around damaged assets such as the Arctic Metagaz platform, reinforcing that energy and port infrastructure are now part of the same operational threat landscape.

The tracker below captures confirmed attacks and near-miss events affecting commercial vessels and offshore assets. It provides a continuously updated record of the incidents, the vessel types involved, the operating context, and the emerging patterns across the conflict zone.

Key Patterns

• Tankers and bulk carriers dominate the incident set: Most incidents recorded to date involve tankers and bulk carriers, reinforcing that core commercial shipping flows remain the primary exposure point. Container vessels, support vessels, tugs, and offshore infrastructure have also been affected, but at a lower frequency.
• Exposure extends across multiple operating conditions: The attack set includes vessels struck while anchored, transiting outbound, drifting, in drydock, and during ship-to-ship operations. This indicates that the risk environment is not limited to narrow movement corridors alone.
• Serious incidents are concentrated in the Strait and adjacent Gulf zones: The Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf, and Northern Arabian Gulf account for the majority of incidents recorded so far. Several of the most severe attacks involved fires, structural damage, oil leakage, evacuation, and at least one confirmed fatality.
• The threat environment is multi-vector: The incidents recorded so far include projectiles, UAV-related events, USV attacks, and close-proximity detonations. That mix reinforces the need to monitor for both direct strikes and lower-visibility near-miss activity.
• Targeting is broader than stated intent: While IRGC messaging frames strikes as focused on Western-linked vessels, incident data shows a wider impact. Sanctioned vessels and non-Western-linked ships, including a Palau-flagged tanker and an India-flagged vessel, have also been hit, indicating that strike patterns are not strictly aligned with declared targeting criteria and may be operationally indiscriminate.
• Infrastructure exposure is emerging alongside vessel risk: Confirmed strikes on offshore platforms and damage to oil, gas, and port-related assets indicate that targeting is expanding beyond vessels to include critical maritime infrastructure, increasing systemic risk across both transport and energy supply layers.

Vessel Attack Timeline

March 1

March 1 marked the first major cluster of confirmed attacks, with multiple tanker and cargo incidents recorded across the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and Bahrain.

SKYLIGHT

• IMO: 9330020
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Palau
• Compliance risk: Sanctioned
• Previous port: Iraq, Basrah
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Strait of Hormuz

Summary: Struck by a projectile at anchor, causing a fire. Crew evacuated with four injuries reported. The vessel was designated by OFAC on December 20, 2025, for involvement in transporting Iranian petroleum products. Windward data shows a history of identity changes and opaque ownership structures, behavioral patterns commonly associated with sanctions evasion networks. 

HERCULES STAR

• IMO: 9916135
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Gibraltar
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Strait of Hormuz

Summary: Struck by a projectile while transiting outbound, with a fire reported onboard. No pollution was observed, and all crew were confirmed safe. The vessel returned to anchorage in Dubai. 

OCEAN ELECTRA

• IMO: 9402782
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Liberia
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Direct strike
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: Projectile detonated in close proximity during transit. No damage reported, with no injuries or serious impact confirmed.

MKD VYOM

• IMO: 9284386
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Marshall Islands 
• Previous port: Netherlands
• Nexus: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Gulf of Oman

Summary: Struck by a USV while transiting northbound. Fire reported onboard, and one fatality confirmed. The vessel remained afloat before being towed to a safe location.

STENA IMPERATIVE

• IMO: 9666077
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: United States
• Previous port: Bahrain
• Nexus: USA
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Bahrain

Summary: Struck by two projectiles while berthed at the Port of Bahrain. The strike ignited a fire that was quickly extinguished, and the vessel remained secured alongside the pier. All mariners were safely evacuated, with no onboard injuries reported. One fatality occurred shoreside, with two additional shipyard workers injured. The vessel had previously been harassed by IRGC forces in February 2026 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, indicating repeated exposure to regional threat activity.

March 3

By March 3, the pattern had expanded into anchored and near-anchor vessel activity in the Gulf of Oman, with both near misses and confirmed strikes.

PELAGIA

• IMO: 9433626
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Malta
• Previous port: Brazil
• Event type: Near miss
• Location: Gulf of Oman

Summary: A UAV was observed before impacting the water nearby. No damage reported, and the vessel and crew were confirmed safe.

GOLD OAK

• IMO: 9806342
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Previous port: Thailand
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Gulf of Oman

Summary: Struck by a projectile while at anchor, causing structural damage to the steel plating. No fire or water ingress was reported, and all crew were confirmed safe.

LIBRA TRADER 

• IMO: 9562673
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: India
• Previous port: Vietnam
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Gulf of Oman

Summary: Struck by a projectile while anchored. Minor damage was reported to the vessel’s funnel, with projectile debris found on deck. No injuries were reported.

March 4

March 4 showed continued escalation into container shipping and tanker operations across the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, and the Northern Arabian Gulf.

SAFEEN PRESTIGE

• IMO: 9593517
• Vessel type: Container
• Flag: Malta 
• Previous port: UAE
• Nexus: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Strait of Hormuz

Summary: Explosion near stern following the approach by small craft, causing hull damage above the waterline and igniting a fire in the engine room. The crew abandoned the vessel with no injuries reported. Two days later, a tug assisting the damaged vessel was struck by additional projectiles in the same area. 

MSC GRACE

• IMO: 9987366
• Vessel type: Container
• Flag: Liberia
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Near miss
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: A projectile detonated approximately one nautical mile from the vessel while drifting. No damage was reported. 

SONANGOL NAMIBE

• IMO: 9325049
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Bahamas 
• Previous port: Iraq, Basrah
• Nexus: USA and UK
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Northern Arabian Gulf

Summary: Struck by an explosion while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, with a blast reported on the port side following the approach of a small craft assessed as an Iranian remote-controlled explosive vessel. The incident caused cargo hold damage and oil leakage, with visible oil on the water indicating potential environmental impact. No fire was reported, and all crew were confirmed safe.

March 6

March 6 saw continued targeting within the Strait of Hormuz, including support vessels operating in proximity to previously attacked ships.

MUSSAFAH 2

• IMO: 9522051
• Vessel type: Tug
• Flag: UAE
• Previous port: UAE
• Nexus: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Strait of Hormuz

Summary: Struck by two missiles while assisting the damaged SAFEEN PRESTIGE. The attack resulted in at least four fatalities and three severe injuries among the crew.

March 7

March 7 expanded the threat environment to offshore energy infrastructure within the Arabian Gulf.

ARABIA III

• IMO: 8771332
• Vessel type: Offshore Rig
• Flag: Liberia
• Previous port: Saudi Arabia
• Nexus: UK
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: Drilling rig struck by UAVm with additional drone debris impacting a nearby platform. Injuries were reported, and all crew members on board were safely evacuated.

March 10

By March 10, incidents continued across commercial shipping routes, with both near misses and direct strikes reported.

GH KAHLO

• IMO: 9617521
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Bermuda
• Previous port: UAE
• Nexus: UK
• Event type: Near miss
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: The master reported a splash and loud bang in close proximity. No damage was reported.

ONE MAJESTY

• IMO: 9424912
• Vessel type: Container
• Flag: Japan
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: Struck by a projectile at the stern while at anchor in the Gulf, with minor damage above the waterline. All crew were safe and accounted for with no injuries reported, and the vessel proceeded to a safe anchorage.

March 11

March 11 was one of the most severe days in the timeline, with multiple serious attacks affecting bulk carriers and tankers across the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, and the Northern Arabian Gulf.

MAYUREE NAREE

• IMO: 9323649
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Thailand
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Strait of Hormuz

Summary: A projectile strike caused an engine room fire. Three crew members were reported missing, while the remaining 20 were safely evacuated by the Omani Coast Guard.

STAR GWYNETH

• IMO: 9301031
• Vessel type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Marshall Islands
• Previous port: Iran
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: A projectile strike caused a breach in the cargo hold and ballast tanks, with additional damage reported to the forecastle. The vessel reported listing, but no environmental impact was observed, and all crew were confirmed safe.

SAFESEA VISHNU

• IMO: 9327009
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Marshall Islands
• Previous port: Iraq, Basrah
• Nexus: USA
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Northern Arabian Gulf

Summary: Struck by a projectile during a ship-to-ship operation with ZEFYROS within Iraqi territorial waters, causing a fire onboard. One casualty was reported.

ZEFYROS

• IMO: 9515917
• Vessel type: Tanker
• Flag: Malta
• Previous port: Iraq, Basrah
• Event type: Severe strike
• Location: Northern Arabian Gulf

Summary: Struck by a projectile during ship-to-ship operations with SAFESEA VISHNU within Iraqi territorial waters, causing a significant fire that was later extinguished. All crew were reported safe.

March 12

March 12 maintained the pattern of attacks on commercial container vessels operating within the Arabian Gulf.

SOURCE BLESSING

• IMO: 9243198
• Vessel type: Container
• Flag: Liberia 
• Previous port: UAE
• Event type: Direct strike
• Location: Arabian Gulf

Summary: A projectile struck the accommodation block, causing a fire that was later extinguished. No pollution was reported, and all crew remained safe.