Choke points are narrow waterways through which vital maritime trade passes, and as such are attractive to terrorists wishing to cause disruption and economic damage. The points include (but are not limited to):
The Malacca Straits
The Straits of Hormuz
The Bosphorus Strait
The Suez Canal
The Panama Canal
There is much debate surrounding what happened to the Japanese tanker M-STAR in the Straits of Hormuz on 28 July 2010. The vessel, laden with 200,000 barrels of oil, was travelling to Japan via the Straits of Hormuz, when there were reports of an external explosion, causing a large dent in the side of the vessel.
For conflicting accounts of the attack, go to the following links:
http://www.seatradeasia-online.com/News/5937.html
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100804_dispatch_ongoing_questions_m_star_case
