“If Iran is bringing limpet mines back out of the wardrobe I would be worried for ships across the Gulf,” said Martin Kelly, chief executive of the maritime security consultancy Orbital Risk Intelligence, who is advising three ships due to pass through the strait this weekend.
Kelly said that Iran was “doing everything they can to stop ships getting through”, including issuing false information campaigns about ships being hit by mines, increasing the geographical area in which its forces attack ships and increasing the tempo of strikes.
The first two weeks of October were the heaviest period of strikes against shipping since the war began.“Shipowners will begin to say, ‘ , there are now limpet mines, we’re not going through’,” he said, adding that ships in local anchorages could be particularly at risk.
Iran has also used cruise missiles against shipping in recent weeks, as well as using drones to target the vessels’ funnels, because that increases the damage by focusing the blast on a part of the ship connected to the engine room, maritime security experts said.
Because most ships are sailing through Omani territorial waters, they are not permitted to have armed guards on board but typically sail with response officers from security consultancies on the bridge who advise crews as they transit the strait.Dubai’s PRY Shipping, the owner of Louise 1, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another tanker and a dhow in the strait suffered fires on Thursday after being hit by missiles.
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