Daijiworld Media Network - Doha

Doha, Oct 8: A tanker sailing off the northern coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles, with casualties reported among those on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The incident took place around 94 km north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, on Wednesday. UKMTO said authorities were investigating the incident but did not provide details on the number of casualties, the vessel's identity or the origin of the ship.

The attack comes amid a recent increase in incidents involving vessels in and around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. An attack on a tanker in the wider Gulf is considered unusual, with vessels more frequently targeted while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and has been a key route for global energy supplies. Before the conflict began, around 125 large commercial vessels passed through the strait each day, with shipments accounting for about 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

UKMTO said on Tuesday that nine tanker attacks had been reported in the Strait of Hormuz during October, equivalent to half the number recorded across the strait and the Gulf in September.

Despite the heightened security risks, Middle Eastern oil exports have remained strong. Data from Kpler showed that the seven-day average of crude exports from the region reached 18.3 million barrels per day on September 30, compared with an average of around 18 million barrels per day during the 12 months before the war.

The latest incident has added to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through the Gulf as attacks on tankers and other vessels continue to increase.