Iran Keeps Up Pace of Strikes With Attack on Brand New LR2 Tanker

(IRGC file image)

On Sunday, Iran hit another tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, extending a fast-paced run of attacks on the "shuttle" shipping trade between Gulf oil producers and the STS transfer zone in the Gulf of Oman. 

Vanguard Tech has identified the latest tanker hit as the Lipsi, a brand new LR2 linked to a Greek operator and a Chinese owner. Industry media sources have reported that the vessel sustained engine room damage. 

Over the past week, the pace of successful Iranian strikes has approached a rate of nearly one tanker per day, following weeks of relative security.

The attacks put pressure on the steady flow of tanker traffic through the waterway, which had recently rebounded to more than 12 million barrels per day - enough to restore total Gulf export volume to nearly prewar levels.

There may be technical factors behind the increased hit rate. Iran's ship-targeting capability appears to be getting better, one U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal.   

A reduced emphasis on deterrence may also be allowing Iran greater latitude to strike shipping. After briefly pursuing a "head-for-an-eye" strategy of damaging or sinking Iranian tankers in retaliation, the U.S. appears to have ceased all (publicized) counterattacks on the Iran-linked merchant fleet.

The last CENTCOM kinetic strike on an Iranian tanker was on September 8. 

So far, at least some volume of tanker traffic through the U.S.-protected southern waterway continues, despite Iran's push to increase the pace of attacks. Naval analyst Tom Bike has identified three disabled tankers in the vicinity of the Musandam Peninsula and at least four additional tankers making a daylight transit through the channel. 

Source: maritime-executive.com