On September 8, local time, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces had struck five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and waters near Iran. Four were in the Gulf of Oman, while the fifth was near Iran’s Kharg Island. Together with the three tankers struck by U.S. forces on September 5, eight Iranian oil tankers have now been targeted within four days. Meanwhile, commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen further, leaving commercial shipping exposed to growing security risks, potential schedule disruption, and higher transportation costs.

Key Highlights 

• Five tankers destroyed: The U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on September 8, bringing the four-day total to eight. 

• Evacuation warning: Iran warned tanker crews at ports and anchorages in Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate their vessels. 

• Traffic declines: Only six commodity-carrying vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on September 8 as shipping risks continued to rise.

U.S. Says Five More Tankers Destroyed, Taking Four-Day Total to Eight

U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces struck five Iranian oil tankers on September 8: Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco, and Derya. According to the U.S. statement, the crews were instructed to abandon the vessels before the strikes, after which the tankers were either destroyed or disabled.

On September 5, the U.S. military also announced strikes on three Iranian oil tankers, bringing the total over four days to eight. Reports of the vessels’ damage and operational status are based primarily on U.S. statements and remain subject to confirmation through further independent reporting.

Iran Warns Gulf Tanker Crews as Risks Rise at Ports and Anchorages

As military operations at sea continue, the risks are no longer confined to vessels underway. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously warned tanker crews at ports and anchorages in Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate their vessels.

For Gulf energy shipping, this means security conditions must be monitored not only at sea, but also while vessels are waiting in port, anchored, or conducting cargo operations. Reuters reported that the situation has already had a significant impact on regional commercial shipping, with some vessels avoiding high-risk areas or awaiting further instructions.

Commodity Vessel Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Falls to Six

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has become a key indicator of the situation’s impact on global shipping. Kpler data showed that six commodity-carrying vessels transited the strait on September 8, with five inbound and one outbound. Nine vessels transited on September 7, while the average over the previous 10 days was approximately 12. These figures cover only commodity-carrying vessels and do not mean that all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped.

For international logistics and energy shipments involving the Gulf, persistently low traffic levels could gradually affect vessel waiting times, voyage schedules, war risk insurance costs, fuel costs, and overall transportation costs. Companies with cargo already booked should confirm whether carriers have revised their port calls, estimated arrival times, or applicable surcharges. Additional time should also be allowed for potential delays to time-sensitive shipments.

Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has not been completely halted. However, if military risks continue to rise, uncertainty across the shipping market could increase further.

Sources and Disclaimer 

Sources include U.S. Central Command, Reuters, Kpler, Seatrade Maritime, and publicly available shipping information. This article is provided solely for reference by the international logistics and freight forwarding industry. Specific operational arrangements remain subject to the latest notices issued by the relevant authorities and carriers.