Updates on Incidents in the Straits of Hormuz

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation ^ | March 11, 2026

[Miami Rebel]

Advisory UKMTO #2026

11 March 2026 Total Incident Summary. Reporting period: 28 February 2026 - 11 March 2026. UKMTO has received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz (SOH) and Gulf of Oman. Total attack reports: 13. Total suspicious activity reports: 4. Details of these incident reports are available below.

Attack UKMTO #20

11 March 2026 UKMTO WARNING 020-26 - ATTACK Report Date: 11 Mar 2026 Report Time: 0205UTC Issue Date: 11 Mar 2026 Source: Master UKMTO has received a report of an incident 50NM northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Master of a Bulk Carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

Attack UKMTO #19

11 March 2026 UKMTO WARNING 019-26 - ATTACK Report Date:11 Mar 2026 Report Time:0435UTC Issue Date: 11 Mar 2026 Source: Company Security Officer UKMTO has received a report of an incident 11NM north of Oman in the Straits of Hormuz. It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard. The vessel has requested assistance and the crew are evacuating the vessel. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities continue to investigate.

[CatHerd]

At its narrow point, the Strait is only about 15 miles wide, and the channel allowing large vessels to pass is narrower still. If the Iranians manage to sink a ship there, the Strait will be blocked until salvage vessels can get in and drag the sunken ship’s carcass out of the channel.

The IEA just announced release of 400 million barrels (the largest release ever) from member states’ strategic oil reserves. Total holdings are 1.2 billion barrels, so one third of the collective reserves are being drained. The 400 million barrels amounts to 20 days’ worth of oil shipped out of the Strait before the war (20 million per day). This is Day 12 of the war, so the release makes up for the shortage realized so far plus eight days going forward.

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait are significantly cutting oil production because storage facilities have reached capacity. Once the Strait is open again, it will take weeks to get production back online again.

[BlueStateRightist]

Already considered — since 2008. Oman and UAE deferred due to enormous cost and logistical/geographic challenge.

[A strike]

Yeah, that’ll work,
NOT

[MotorCityBuck]

“Time to acknowledge facts. The U.S. would be wise to reinstate full Trade with Russia.”
Absolutely.

[kaktuskid]

Why would you trade with the SOBs who are giving intelligence on our ships to the Mullahs?

[kaktuskid]

Are there not roads in Oman and the UAE? Move the stuff by truck!

[kaktuskid]

So you want a bunch of Shitty Ladas?

[kaktuskid]

Time to incinerate the Iranian coast.

[MotorCityBuck]

I was thinking oil.
Dipsh*t.

[TexasGator]

The information was released on March 4 by Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND). It is suggested that Russia “is attempting to conceal the true costs of its war of aggression against Ukraine by manipulating statistical data.” According to the agency’s findings, the real budget deficit amounts to just over 8 trillion rubles (around €89 billion).

Russia’s budgetary problems stem from the prolonged war and Western sanctions. The war has now lasted five years, and the economy is unable to function efficiently under the current level of wartime spending. The BND notes that further sanctions—such as those targeting third countries supporting Russia or the so-called “shadow fleet”—and their effective enforcement would further weaken the Russian war effort.

https://defence24.com/geopolitics/russias-budget-deficit-was-higher-than-officially-stated

[TexasGator]

The proposal is to lower the oil price threshold at which the depleted National Welfare Fund can be used to cover budget shortfalls, which would likely lead to cuts in some expenditures. Since reducing military spending is considered unrealistic, funding for the already stagnating civilian economy will likely be reduced.

The Iranian war, which temporarily pushed the price of Brent crude above $100 per barrel, could help Russia’s budget, although much depends on how long the conflict lasts, said Petras Katinas, an expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

If the war ends within weeks, the effect will be minimal, but if it drags on, Russia’s economy could receive more substantial inflows.

https://english.nv.ua/business/kremlin-deficit-hits-43b-as-oil-slump-and-ukraine-war-drain-funds-50590749.html#goog_rewarded

[woodbutcher1963]

I believe it was more important to knock out any ballistic missile launchers and executive leaders first.

Keep in mind this War has lasted less than two weeks. They established air superiority in a few days. It took three weeks during the second Gulf War with Iraq.

Now, they have been blowing up the boats that lay mines.

The price of oil is a concern. BUT I am personally surprised it did not exceed $100/barrel. During Obama’s tenure it hit $150 and there was not a war.

[CatHerd]

Moving oil by sea:

Oil supertanker capacity ranges from 2 million barrels (320,000+ DWT) for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to over 3.7 million barrels for Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs).

Moving oil by road:

Oil truck capacities generally range from 1,000 to over 11,600 US gallons for standard highway tankers, with 8,000–11,600 gallons being typical for large semi-trailers.

To make it simple, let’s be generous to your proposal and say the average oil tank truck carries 10,000 gallons, which equals 238 barrels of oil in your scenario (one barrel = 42 gallons).

To haul the same capacity of only one VLCC (2 million barrels), it would require 8,400 trucks. Even if there were that many available in theater (which of course there are not), imagine the deadlocked traffic going both ways waiting for these tank trucks to be filled and then offloaded.

To get back up to the same prewar 20 million barrels per day shipped out of the Strait, you would need 84,000 oil trucks making the road trip every day.

Nope, not happening.

[montag813]

Correct. Perhaps a deal to drop all sanctions in exchange for Russia entering the conflict to destroy the Islamic Republic.

[for-q-clinton]

I think fear of Iran also played a role. But now with Iran getting neutered this can be a long term solution. Or at least a pipeline.

[basalt]

be honest...thats the only real power that Iran had/has, is closing that little 20 mile stretch of the Straights. Militarily, those missles and drones are more of a nuisance than anything. Im quite sure they could have gone after and protected the Straight at the very beginning..not wait almost 2 weeks in. Im also sure thats been high on the Pentagons list the last 50- 60 years or so. Again, this has been an historical military beat down...except for this part.

[CatHerd]

Barring a miracle, oil tankers transiting the Strait will not return to prewar levels before summer. See my #21:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4370215/posts?page=21#21

And that does not include repairing damage to storage and port facilities, past, ongoing and future. It's ongoing now:

View from a cargo ship at the Omani port of Salalah this evening, surrounded by burning port facilities after an Iranian drone strike.

View from a cargo ship at the Omani port of Salalah this evening, surrounded by burning port facilities after an Iranian drone strike.

Link: https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2031770453895713044

[TexasGator]

“See my #21:”

Are you suggesting I correct your numbers in #21?

[CatHerd]

Feel free! I am always open to correction.

[TexasGator]

“At its narrow point, the Strait is only about 15 miles wide, and the channel allowing large vessels to pass is narrower still. If the Iranians manage to sink a ship there, the Strait will be blocked until salvage vessels can get in and drag the sunken ship’s carcass out of the channel.”

At its narrowist, it is 21 miles.

The shipping channel, including the buffer zone is six miles wide. Sinking a ship will not block the channel.