Oil tanker KIKU attacked in Strait of Hormuz, second commercial vessel hit in three days

The Panama-flagged oil tanker KIKU was reportedly attacked on 27 June while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking the second confirmed attack on a commercial vessel in the strategic waterway within three days and raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the Gulf.

The incident follows the 25 June drone strike on the containership Ever Lovely, which was hit while sailing through the southern shipping corridor of the Strait. The back-to-back attacks have intensified security concerns for commercial shipping using one of the world's most critical energy and trade routes.

According to maritime reports, KIKU was carrying around 2 million barrels of crude oil loaded from Qatar's Al Shaheen oil field at the time of the attack. While vessel movements through the Strait continue, shipowners and charterers are expected to maintain heightened vigilance amid increased security risks.

The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global seaborne crude oil trade, making any disruption a significant concern for tanker operators, marine insurers, freight markets, and global supply chains. The latest incidents are likely to keep war-risk insurance costs and operational risk assessments under close industry focus in the coming days.