U.S. Navy F/A-18 Disables Rudder of Iranian VLCC Hasna in Gulf of Oman

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln fired several 20mm cannon rounds into the rudder of the Iranian-flagged VLCC Hasna in international waters in the Gulf of Oman on May 6, disabling the vessel after it ignored repeated warnings that it was transiting in violation of the U.S. naval blockade.

CENTCOM confirmed the Hasna's rudder was disabled and stated the vessel is "no longer transiting to Iran." The tanker was unladen at the time of the strike. No crew casualties have been reported.

Hasna is a VLCC built in 2003, measuring 333 metres LOA with a deadweight of 299,229 tonnes - one of Iran's largest tankers. The vessel sails under Iranian flag. ShipAtlas data shows the vessel's last recorded port calls included Khor al Fakkan and Fujairah prior to the incident and it has not been transmitting AIS for 20 days. (See screenshot below)

Investigation and damage assessment are ongoing under U.S. military authority.