Muscat: A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile near the Omani coast close to the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. One crew member has been reported missing following the incident.
According to foreign media reports, the targeted commercial vessel was the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Manoan Pioneer, which was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the attack.
Maritime security sources said the projectile caused severe damage to the ship, prompting crew members to jump overboard to save their lives.
According to the British maritime risk management group Vanguard, the unidentified projectile struck the vessel’s engine room, triggering a fire in the crew accommodation area.
The crew initially attempted to extinguish the fire but were forced to evacuate after failing to bring the blaze under control. The ship’s third engineer remains missing, and search efforts are ongoing.
Following the incident, maritime security organizations operating in the region issued warnings to nearby vessels to remain vigilant. Rescue and search-and-rescue teams have also been dispatched to assist the affected ship.
The incident comes amid a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman in recent weeks, raising concerns among global shipping companies and energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies are transported. As a result, any attack in the area has immediate implications for global trade and international oil prices.
Also Read: US Interference in Strait of Hormuz Puts Entire Region at Risk: Iranian Military
