Todays updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait, all ports and anchorages across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman......plus ongoing attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait, MSC Sariska update and how the Iran war is affecting the gas markets and crews aboard the gas ships
Reports across Bahrain and Kuwait are confirming that both countries are under sustained missile and drone attack at this time. Iran is claiming to have hit the USN 5th Fleet in Bahrain, which the USN denies.
Iranian missiles and drones target Bahrain, Kuwait; US says threats ‘successfully defeated’ (Gulf Times - June 3, 2026) /
Kuwait Army Warns Public Against Touching Missile Debris, Urges Immediate Reporting (Arab News Kuwait - June 3, 2026)
MSC have confirmed that their ship, Sariska, was hit twice as she left the port of Umm Qasr. The first hit was at the waterline and the second was on the crew accommodation area of the ship. The harbour pilot was onboard at the time. The company have confirmed that no crew have been injured and that the harbour pilot is also OK. It is thought that a surface USV hit her side and a missile or drone hit the upper accommodation area.
More on this :
MSC Confirms Containership Was Hit Twice by Projectiles Off Iraq (gCaptain - June 2, 2026)
A first hand account from a gas carrier indicates the difficulties of living and working on a gas carrier during a war, the issues with war causing problems for the gas markets and the logistics of crewing....
A day before crossing the Strait of Hormuz, an Indonesian seafarer aboard the Al Rayyan tanker published a picture of a rainbow cutting across the bow. “When the dream ship becomes reality,” he wrote on social media, thanking God for the blessing. Then the liquefied natural gas carrier switched off its transponder and began to move out of the Persian Gulf.
The Al Rayyan, loaded with Qatari LNG, tailed another gas carrier coming from the emirate, the Fuwairit, which was preparing to cross the waterway under a deal between Pakistan and Iran. For the seafarers in the second vessel, who had no such government protection, it was a safety beacon through a treacherous corridor, mariners recounted later.
They slowly entered Iranian-controlled waters, scanning the horizon for other tankers, Iranian patrol boats and incoming drones. There was silence. Then the first ship’s signal also disappeared. Some of the crew prayed.
A day later, the two reemerged from their dark crossing, in the Gulf of Oman. After months of waiting, both carriers set off to the east.
More on this :
The Iran War Is Pushing the Global Gas Trade Into the Shadows (gCaptain - June 2, 2026)
Onto the Strait of Hormuz where there is an increase of activity in both directions. There are no reported incidents at time of writing
The Bab-el-Mandab is very quiet this morning, it is flowing well but fewer ships are visible. No reported incidents at time of writing
On ports and anchorages from Umm Qasr to Doha.....very busy around Kuwait City, Umm Qasr, Bahrain, Dammam and Doha ports with significant traffic increase on their respective anchorages. As always, the Iranian herders are amongst the ships
The ports and ancorages from Mina Saqr to Jebel Ali....much quieter, caveat AIS could well be turned off....Ras-al-Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Das Island, Sharjah, Dubai and Jebel Ali ports and anchorages are active. Once again the Iranian herders are out and about. No reports of incidents at time of writing
Ports and anchorages from Dibba to Muscat......extremely busy across all ports and anchorages...Dibba, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Al Widyyat, Liwa, Sohar and Muscat showing a big increase in traffic both in port and on their respective anchorages. Iranian herders are patrolling but no reported incidents at time of writing
No updates on CMA CGM San Antonio.
That's it for now....more updates tomorrow.