Strait of Hormuz Under Fire: Three Ships Struck as Shipping Crisis Deepens
Messenger
Whatsapp
Threads
Email
Print
X
Facebook
Maritime security agencies and sources said on Wednesday that three ships were struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, with one of the attacks sparking a fire aboard a vessel and forcing most of its crew to evacuate.
Two maritime security sources said the bulk cargo ship “Mayuree Naree”, flying the Thai flag, was targeted and damaged approximately 11 nautical miles north of Oman.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations later reported that the fire had been extinguished and there was no environmental impact, with some essential crew members remaining on board.
Earlier, two maritime security sources reported that the container ship “One Majesty”, flying the Japanese flag, sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
Sources confirmed that the crew members are safe and that the ship is heading to a secure anchorage.
Maritime security agencies reported that a third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also struck by an unknown projectile about 50 miles northwest of Dubai.
Vanguard Maritime Risk Management stated that the projectile damaged the hull of the vessel, Star Gwyneth, which sails under the Marshall Islands flag, and confirmed that its crew members are safe.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage that handles about 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies, has fallen sharply since the conflict with Iran began on February 28.
Recent incidents have raised the number of ships attacked to at least 14 since the conflict began.
Additionally, Vincent Clare, CEO of Maersk, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that the company currently has 10 ships stranded in the Gulf.
He explained that a return to normal operations, if a ceasefire is reached, would take at least a week to 10 days.