THREATS to shipping in the Middle East escalated further after the US announced “Project Freedom” and Iran declared its own measures to exert control over the besieged Strait of Hormuz.

The already strained security situation appeared to have deteriorated quickly over the weekend and into Monday, with at least four commercial vessels reporting incidents since Sunday, including one that took place before US president Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” in a social media post.

US Central Command (Centcom) on Monday said two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and that two guided-missile destroyed are “currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.

“American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping,” said Centcom.

Meanwhile, Iran announced its own measures on Monday, establishing a new “maritime control area” in the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News agency reported.

According to Tasnim, the area’s southeast border runs along a line from Mount Mobarak in Iran to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, while the northwest border runs from western tip of Qeshm Island, Iran to Umm Al Quwain in the UAE.

Notably, this area covers the territorial waters of both Oman and the UAE, including the port of Fujairah, which has served as an important bypass valve for oil cargoes trapped west of Hormuz.

A VHF communication from the IRGC Navy, which Lloyd’s List could not immediately verify, threatened destruction of vessels disobeying the new directive.

“No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” according to the broadcast.

“Any vessel intending to enter the Strait of Hormuz that crosses the red line between [inaudible], and any vessel, intending to enter the Strait of Hormuz, that crosses the red line between Koh Mobarak and Fujairah Port, will be met with severe response from the IRGC Navy and will be destroyed.”

Shortly after Trump’s announcement on Sunday evening, a very large crude carrier operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation, understood to be Barakah (IMO: 9902615), was hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates said the vessel was struck by two drones and called Iran’s attacks “acts of piracy”. The vessel’s crew were reported safe.

Another incident was reported on Monday by South Korea-owned general cargo ship, HMM Namu (IMO: 1039292), which issued a distress signal reporting an explosion and fire on board. Authorities were assessing whether the vessel was hit by a drifting sea mine or “another external object”, according to maritime risk management firm Vanguard Tech. All crew were accounted for.

In a separate incident on Saturday, a ship bound to Iran, which is understood to have received permission from the US to pass the blockade on humanitarian grounds and was also cleared by Iran, reported being attacked by IRGC. The crew were reported safe.

Illustrating the chaotic situation unfolding in the region, Lloyd’s List understands that a Chinese shadow fleet* tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

An audio clip circulating on Chinese social media appears to corroborate the incident. In the recording, a crewmember broadcasts in Mandarin that his vessel has been struck by a missile, causing a fire on deck. The coordinates he reported match the position of JV Innovation (IMO: 9276688), the only tanker in that vicinity at the time. JV Innovation is one of several shadow fleet tankers tracked by Lloyd’s List that have lifted compliant cargoes in recent weeks.

Iran also resumed attacks on the UAE on Monday, with the Fujairah government confirming a “large fire” in the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone caused by an Iranian drone.

Even prior to Trump’s announcement on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received multiple reports from masters in the vicinity of Ras al Khaimah, UAE, who said they were instructed by the IRGC to move from their anchorages.

Iran’s move to create a “buffer” may be an attempt to prevent vessels from making a dash through the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani territorial waters, where the Adnoc VLCC appears to have been targeted.

Last week, Adnoc had informed some customers that it would be loading cargoes via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah imminently, and had recently started shuttling tankers through the Strait of Hormuz on a limited basis.

Limited details on ‘Project Freedom’

Trump’s announcement of Project Freedom appears to have caught the industry by surprise, and industry officials urged caution amid the ongoing threat from Iran.

“It is too early to assess whether this represents a positive step,” said Intertanko Marine Director Phillip Belcher.

“Details remain limited, and the threat to merchant vessels from Iran persists. It is unclear whether the US would intervene in the event of an Iranian response, or how traffic flows would be managed by the Omani Coast Guard.”

The Joint Maritime Information Center said in an advisory that vessels transiting the strait should “consider routing via the Omani territorial waters south of the traffic separation scheme”, and coordinate with Omani authorities via VHF channel 16 to maintain safety of navigation.

“Before transits resume, the industry must be provided with clear, verified information relating both to developments in Iran and to measures introduced by the United States,” said Intertanko.

“This is particularly important for navigational safety, including the status of alternative routing, reported mines within the traffic separation scheme and surrounding waters, and the nature of any interaction with the IRGC in a sanctions context.”