Another oil tanker has been struck near the Strait of Hormuz, the fourth vessel hit in the latest sequence of attacks on shipping in the region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on October 4 that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile, suffering engine-room damage. All crew were reported safe, and no environmental impact was found. The strike followed a string of incidents. On Saturday, a crude tanker was hit 4 nautical miles east of Oman, and Iranian gunboats opened fire on a tanker 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, UKMTO said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. They come amid the US-Iran war and pressure on Tehran over the strait, through which a large share of the world’s seaborne oil passes. JPMorgan estimates Middle East crude shipments have rebounded to about 17.5 million barrels per day, roughly 98 per cent of pre-war levels. Flows through the strait hit about 12.8 million a day in September. The latest strikes will sharpen concerns among shippers. Earlier, the International Maritime Organization delayed plans to evacuate 11,000 seafarers from the region until the security picture became clearer.