A Maltese-flagged container ship, Safeen Prestige, has been struck by a projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel.

 

 

Shipping sources said the incident occurred about two nautical miles north of Oman while the ship was transiting the key global shipping lane. British maritime risk management firm Vanguard said the vessel was hit above the waterline, sparking a fire onboard.

 

 

“The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room. No environmental impact has been reported at this time,” the company said.

 

 

The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the incident but said the vessel involved is not British.

 

 

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments passing through the narrow waterway between Iran on one side and United Arab Emirates and Oman on the other. The route links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a vital corridor for oil exports to Europe, the United States and Asia.

 

 

The attack has heightened concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies after Iran warned it could close the strait amid escalating regional tensions. Most oil tankers leaving ports across the Persian Gulf must pass through the roughly 60-mile-wide channel, which has been at the centre of geopolitical disputes for decades.

 

 

Shipping analysts say the latest incident is already making shipowners more cautious about using the waterway, with some vessels increasing onboard security while others consider rerouting shipments despite the longer travel times involved.

 

 

In a separate development, Sri Lankan authorities said an Iranian naval frigate identified as IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. Officials said 32 people were rescued from the vessel, though several casualties were reported. The cause of the sinking was not immediately clear. The warship is equipped with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes and can carry a helicopter.

 

 

Earlier, the United States military said it had destroyed 17 Iranian vessels during the ongoing conflict and declared that its objective was to sink “the entire navy.”