A tanker was struck by two unidentified projectiles in the Arabian Gulf on 4 November 2026. The report comes from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Warning 196-26.
The incident was at 23:20 UTC. The position was about 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar. Madinat ash Shamal is a town on the north coast of Qatar.
What UKMTO confirmed
UKMTO said the source was verified. It said a tanker was struck by two unidentified projectiles. At the time of the warning, the status of the crew was unconfirmed. Damage and any pollution were also unconfirmed.
UKMTO did not name the tanker. It did not say who fired the projectiles. It advised ships to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.
How this fits recent attacks
This is a separate place from the recent hits near Limah, Oman. Limah is on the Gulf of Oman side of the Musandam peninsula. Read our post on the three Limah attacks and the death of an Indian seafarer on the dhow Al Jusufi.
The Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz remain high-risk for crews. The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) still lists the Persian Gulf and Hormuz as a warlike area until 19 November 2026. See the IBF warlike-area update.
What crews can do now
Follow your company security plan and the latest BMP / industry guidance for the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
Report any attack, near miss or suspicious craft to UKMTO as soon as it is safe. Use the contacts on the UKMTO website, or email watchkeepers@ukmto.org.
Keep a good lookout day and night. Limit time on open deck when the threat is high, unless the master says the work is needed for safety.
Know your citadel or safe muster point. Practise how to get there quickly in the dark.
Keep AIS, VHF and other reporting set as your company and flag state require. False or missing reports can delay help.
If your ship is hit, first protect life, then fire and flooding, then report. Do not go on deck to look at damage until the master says it is safe.
Check your contract for war-risk pay and for the right to refuse a voyage into a warlike area. Ask your union or the ITF if you are unsure.
Help lines and security contacts are on Crewboard's useful links page.
Cover photo: The crude oil tanker Eagle Kinabalu in Port Arthur, Texas, in April 2025. Illustrative photo of a commercial tanker, not the ship in this UKMTO warning. Photo: Quintin Soloviev/Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped).
Sources: UKMTO Warning 196-26: Attack, tanker struck by two unidentified projectiles 50NM north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar (4 Nov 2026, 2320 UTC), UKMTO home page (report contacts and recent incidents).
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