Hormuz Shipping Under Fire: NV Sunshine and GEM NO.2 Among Vessels Reportedly Attacked

Rising maritime attacks around the Strait of Hormuz are increasing risks for global energy shipments and commercial shipping.

On 9 October 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed to have struck the Vietnam-flagged LPG tanker NV Sunshine while it was using the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, off Oman. The claim has not been independently established in the available reporting.

Separately, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker GEM NO.2, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera, off the UAE coast. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the impact triggered a fire that was subsequently extinguished. Subsequent Indian government reporting said all 22 Indian crew members were safe. Responsibility for this attack had not been confirmed.

The incidents follow damage to the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker ST 1, reportedly struck approximately two nautical miles off Oman on 6 October. The IMO recorded the vessel as damaged, with no pollution reported.

Global shipping impact: The IMO’s tally reached 100 confirmed maritime security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East by 9 October, with 24 seafarer fatalities. Repeated attacks and threats are increasing risks to crew safety, tanker operations, marine insurance and energy supply chains. With the Strait of Hormuz a critical corridor for global oil and LNG shipments, prolonged insecurity could increase freight costs, delay cargo deliveries and add volatility to energy markets.

Protecting seafarers and maintaining safe passage for commercial vessels remain essential to limiting further disruption to international trade.