UKMTO reported that a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile at 2300 hrs on March 18 11 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, resulting in a fire on board.

Iran has created a de facto ‘safe’ shipping corridor through its territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz, offering vetted vessels passage in exchange for approval — and in at least one case, a reported $2m payment

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Lloyd’s List understands this vessel to be the Palau-flagged, 12,887 dwt chemical tanker Parimal (IMO: 9308766), which is also on Lloyd’s List’s shadow fleet* watchlist.

The vessel’s crew abandoned ship and were rescued by a Cook Islands-flagged tanker in the anchorage area. Parimal’s master remains unaccounted for, however.

Lloyd’s List senior risk and compliance analyst Bridget Diakun said Parimal “has a history of manipulating its AIS data while operating in the Middle East, suggesting it partakes in the lifting or transhipment of Iranian oil”.

“The fact that shadow fleet vessels are being damaged as a result of the conflict is a reminder that no ships are truly ‘safe’ while operating in the region.”