A cargo ship hit by an unknown projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, reports the British Maritime Agency | Today’s news
According to the UK Maritime Merchant Operations Center (UKMTO), a cargo vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
In an advisory issued to the shipping industry, the UKMTO said the incident occurred approximately 7.5 nautical miles south-east of Dahit, Oman. The projectile reportedly struck the vessel on its starboard side, causing damage to the ship’s bridge.
“The cargo vessel was struck on the starboard side by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the bridge,” UKMTO said in a statement.
Despite the impact, authorities reported no casualties among the crew and no environmental pollution as a result of the incident. The vessel is believed to have continued sailing.
The UKMTO did not identify the source of the shot or provide further details about the circumstances of the attack. The investigation is expected to determine the nature and origin of the strike.
The incident has raised new concerns about maritime security in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical sea lanes through which a significant portion of global oil and gas exports pass each day.
Following the event, the UKMTO urged vessels operating in the region to remain vigilant.
“Vessels are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO,” the agency said.
The UN has suspended the ship evacuation plan
Following the attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for shipping, suspended a plan to help stranded vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The IMO chief said evacuation efforts would remain suspended until safety guarantees were confirmed for ships on the evacuation list and for commercial shipping operating in the region.
The strike came just hours after Iran warned shipping companies against using the newly established sea route through the strait, which was supported by the IMO and regional partners.
Iran warns of alternative shipping corridor
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy issued a warning on Thursday, published by state news agency IRNA, condemning the new route as unauthorized and dangerous.
According to the statement, the route was set without consultation or coordination with Tehran.
“The only authorized route for passage through the Strait of Hormuz is that declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the IRGC naval force said.
It further warned that operating vessels outside Iran-approved routes was “extremely dangerous and prohibited”, adding that violators would be dealt with, although it did not specify what action could be taken.
The remarks raised concerns that Tehran may seek greater control over maritime traffic through the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
A strategic path for global energy supply
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points, carrying roughly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies under normal conditions.
The new route created by Oman and the IMO was intended to allow vessels to bypass areas considered at risk following recent military tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States.
On Thursday, several tankers led by the Stoic Warrior successfully completed a route along the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Oman before the missile strike was reported.
Despite the recent increase in shipping through the strait, vessel movements remain well below pre-conflict levels.
Rubio supports an alternative path
During a visit to the Persian Gulf, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s support for maintaining freedom of navigation through the strait and supporting an alternative shipping corridor.
“If it stops, then we’re going to have a problem,” Rubio said.
Rubio met with foreign ministers from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain to reassure Gulf allies that any future deal with Iran would not undermine their security or economic interests.
“There is no part of this agreement that in any way undermines the security, stability or prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region,” Rubio said.
Peace talks continue amid regional tensions
The naval incident comes as Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate an interim peace deal following recent hostilities.
Under a memorandum of understanding struck last week, the United States and Iran have 60 days to finalize details on issues ranging from maritime security and shipping access to the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
At the same time, tensions in the region remain elevated. Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has intensified in recent days, raising fears that the fragile ceasefire environment could deteriorate further.
While oil prices briefly fell below pre-war levels on Thursday, reflecting hopes for greater stability, the missile strike near Hormuz underscored the ongoing risks facing merchant shipping and global energy markets in the region.
(With inputs from Reuters, AP)
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