Maritime Industry Briefing: Hormuz Tanker Attack Injures 12 Seafarers as ClarkSea Index Hits All-Time High

## Hormuz Tanker Attack Leaves 12 Seafarers Injured A Panama-flagged tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz in the latest act of maritime violence to afflict one of the world's most strategically critical waterways, leaving at least 12 seafarers injured, according to Seatrade Maritime. Eleven of those injured are Indian nationals, prompting a formal condemnation from the Indian government. The incident underscores the continued vulnerability of commercial shipping transiting the Hormuz corridor, through which an estimated 20% of global oil supplies pass daily. New Delhi's response signals growing diplomatic pressure over the safety of Indian seafarers, who represent one of the largest national cohorts in the global maritime workforce. Industry bodies and flag state authorities are expected to review security protocols for vessels operating in the region as the frequency of such incidents continues to weigh on crew welfare and operator risk assessments. The attack adds to a pattern of disruption in Middle Eastern waters that has already forced significant rerouting decisions across the tanker and container sectors. --- ## ClarkSea Index Breaks 2008 Record, Reaches All-Time High In a striking indicator of how geopolitical disruption is reshaping shipping economics, Clarksons' ClarkSea Index — a broad cross-sector measure of vessel earnings — broke through its previous 2008 record to reach an all-time high of **$46,384 per day** in the third quarter, Seatrade Maritime reports. The record-breaking figure was driven primarily by soaring earnings in the VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) and LPG segments, both of which have benefited from longer voyage distances as operators reroute cargoes away from conflict-affected zones, including the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The 2008 benchmark had long stood as the high-water mark for shipping profitability, set during the commodity supercycle that preceded the global financial crisis. Surpassing it reflects the compounding effect of supply chain disruption, elevated energy demand, and constrained fleet capacity across multiple vessel classes. For shipowners and investors, the data represents a significant windfall. However, analysts caution that earnings at these levels are historically difficult to sustain, and that any de-escalation in regional tensions or normalisation of trade routes could trigger a rapid correction. The ClarkSea Index is widely regarded as one of the most reliable barometers of overall shipping market health, aggregating earnings data across tankers, dry bulk, containers, and gas carriers. --- *Sources: Seatrade Maritime*