Cargo ship struck by unknown projectile near Strait of Hormuz, UK Maritime Agency reports
A cargo vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade
A cargo vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center. In an advisory issued to the shipping industry, the UKMTO said the incident occurred approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman. The projectile reportedly hit the vessel on its starboard side, causing damage to the ship’s bridge. “A cargo vessel has been hit on the starboard side by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the bridge,” the UKMTO said in its statement. Despite the impact, authorities reported no casualties among the crew and no environmental pollution resulting from the incident. The vessel is understood to have continued its voyage. The UKMTO did not identify the source of the projectile or provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the attack. An investigation is expected to determine the nature and origin of the strike. The incident has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes through which a significant portion of global oil and gas exports transit each day. Following the event, the UKMTO urged vessels operating in the region to remain vigilant.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” the agency said. UN suspends ship evacuation plan Following the attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency responsible for shipping, paused a plan aimed at helping stranded vessels transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The head of the IMO said the evacuation effort would remain on hold until safety guarantees could be confirmed for ships on the evacuation list and for commercial traffic operating in the region. The strike occurred only hours after Iran warned shipping companies against using a newly established maritime route through the strait that was backed by the IMO and regional partners. Iran warns against alternative shipping corridor Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued a warning on Thursday, carried by state-run IRNA news agency, condemning the new route as unauthorized and dangerous. According to the statement, the route was established without consultation or coordination with Tehran. "The only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran," the IRGC naval force said. It further warned that vessel traffic outside routes approved by Iran was "extremely dangerous and prohibited," adding that violators would be dealt with, though it did not elaborate on what action could be taken.
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