"Unknown projectile" strikes ship in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- An unknown projectile struck the hull of a bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UKMTO.
- The incident adds to growing risks for commercial shipping amid the ongoing US-Iran war.
An “unknown projectile” struck the hull of a bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said.
“The crew are reported safe,” the UKMTO said in an update on Saturday, adding that no damage assessment had been reported and the environmental impact remained unknown.
The incident comes as commercial vessels face increasing security risks around the Arabian Peninsula, with threats reported in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Maritime intelligence group Marisks said in its latest intelligence update that ships navigating in and around the Persian Gulf face the dual threats of violence in the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb.
As a result, the group said there is currently no genuinely “safe” side of the Arabian Peninsula for commercial shipping.
In a report issued Friday, the UKMTO said it had recorded 56 reports of damage to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters since the US-Iran war began on February 28.
Shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has remained at a fraction of pre-war levels, according to the UKMTO.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Continued disruption has raised concerns over the safety of commercial vessels and the potential impact on global energy supplies.
The latest incident is expected to further heighten concerns among shipping companies operating through the waterway as security risks continue to affect maritime traffic in the region.
