No longer just a threat in the skies, Iran has begun using exploding drone boats to target ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier this week, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MKD VYOM was hit by an Iranian unmanned surface vessel (USV), killing one crew member.

The ship collided while sailing off the coast of Oman.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization, managed by the Royal Navy, confirmed that the incident was caused by a drone boat.

“We have received confirmation that the vessel has been attacked by an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and the crew have been evacuated to shore,” UKMTO said in its threat assessment.

Various types of exploding maritime drones have entered global conflicts in recent years, being used frequently by Ukraine against Russia and by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

However, this is reportedly the first time that cheap water-draining weapons have been used in the current Middle East war. Iran continues to retaliate against continued attacks by Israel and the United States.

What is a drone boat?

So-called kamikaze drone boats, designed to explode on impact, can take various forms.

The Houthis have converted small fiberglass and wooden fishing vessels into unmanned surface vessels.

They load the front of the boat with explosives and remotely control weapons to ram it and even sink it. Merchant ships and naval warships in the Red Sea.

Dummies are sometimes placed on boats to “hide the nature of the threat”, Ambry Maritime Safety Authority said.

In 2024, Dimitris Maniatis, CEO of maritime risk management firm MARIKS, described the Houthi USV threat as an “advanced variation in asymmetric warfare tactics” that would allow the rebels to “attack with precision and long range.”

In Ukraine We have been developing drone boat technology since the early days. A full-scale invasion by Russia four years ago.

Similar to stealth enclosed kayaks, Ukraine has used USVs to inflict significant damage on the Russian Navy.

Boats were often fired in groups of 8-10 and evolved into advanced weapons that could not only explode on impact but also fire at targets.

Jennifer Parker, an adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia’s Defense and Security Institute, compared USVs to jet skis or speedboats gliding across water.

He said some could “pack a punch” and cause significant damage, depending on where the ships collided.

The USVs used by the Houthis (known as “blowfish” in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are believed to be able to carry between 150 kilograms and 1,000 kilograms of explosives.

“What makes them effective is where they can hit,” Parker told the ABC.

“If we can strike near the rudder and propulsion system, we can stop the ship from steering.

“If you can land close to the engine compartment, usually at or just below the waterline, you can often cause a secondary explosion.”

A secondary explosion could sink the ship.

Iran increases shipping pressure

Ms Parker said that although there was speculation that the drone boats used by the Houthis were supplied by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, it is generally not known that the Iranian government itself deploys the weapons.

“Certainly Iran has attacked commercial ships many times over the years, and even during what we would consider peaceful times, they were not using USVs,” she said.

Iranian media reported on Monday that the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz was closed and threatened to attack ships attempting to pass through the narrow strait.

Since the outbreak of the war, several tankers have been attacked, including the MKD VYOM tanker.

“The vessel suffered an explosion and subsequent fire following the collision,” V.Ships Asia said in a statement.

“We are extremely disappointed to confirm that one crew member who was in the engine room at the time of the accident has died.”

Iranian threat to attack ships navigating one of the most important shipping lanes Global oil and gas supplies are expected to tighten.

About a fifth of the world’s oil production and liquefied natural gas is transported through the narrow Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, but traffic through the strait has slowed to a trickle since the outbreak of war.

US President Donald Trump has said the Navy could begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

Rohit Rathod, a senior analyst at ship-tracking firm Vortexa, said Trump’s measures may not be enough for widespread safe navigation, but could allow some ships to pass.

“An attack could still take place,” Rathod told Reuters.

“More realistically, insurance premiums will remain high, but we will see individual players sign contracts with Iran and receive exemptions for their vessels.”

Mr Parker served more than 20 years as a war officer in the Royal Australian Navy, including time in the Middle East.

He said it was unlikely that the U.S. Navy would be able to divert resources to escort ships while active fighting was taking place elsewhere in the region.

“Ship escort is very focused on both surface combatants and air patrol combat,” she said.

“These two assets help protect regional countries from drone and missile attacks, and also help carry out attacks in Iran.”

Parker said suicide boats could continue to be used by Iran and even the Houthis, given that they are cheap and effective.

And it would be difficult for most merchant ships to defend them.

“If the USV is sailing and not anchored, the only defense they have is to try to outmaneuver them, but they maneuver very slowly so it’s unlikely to be successful,” Parker said.

“The second thing is to open fire. And that’s only if you have a private security team and that private security team has the authority to use weapons in the area.”