A Singapore-flagged containership was struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman, coinciding with renewed warnings from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that maritime vessels require Iranian permission to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the incident occurred approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, causing damage to the ship’s bridge, although no casualties or environmental harm were reported.
The attack follows earlier alerts from maritime security firm EOS Risk Group, which indicated that commercial vessels were diverting in response to IRGC broadcasts asserting that only ships with Iranian authorization could pass through the strait. Martin Kelly, head of EOS Risk Group, emphasized that the IRGC’s messaging had led to increased caution among shipping crews, warning of consequences for unauthorized transit.
This incident marks the first reported attack on a commercial vessel since the U.S. and Iran reached a memorandum aimed at reducing hostilities and facilitating shipping through the key waterway. The International Maritime Organization had recently coordinated efforts to manage the movement of stranded vessels in the Persian Gulf, a move that the new attack further complicates, raising concerns about ongoing security uncertainties for shipowners and marine insurers. The nature of the projectile remains unclear, and no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the assault.
