A containership traveling through the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a projectile on Wednesday, causing damage to the ship and forcing the crew to evacuate. This incident marks a troubling escalation of attacks targeting commercial vessels in a key global energy passage.
The vessel, the Safeen Prestige, which flies the Maltese flag, was struck around 1109 GMT while heading east, approximately two nautical miles north of Oman, as reported by maritime security sources.
Vanguard, a British maritime risk management firm, confirmed the incident, noting that the ship was hit while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The initial accounts suggest the projectile impacted just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room. The crew abandoned the vessel, but the extent of the damage and the current state of the ship are still unknown.
This incident follows a warning from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which reported that a container ship had been struck by an “unknown projectile” in a nearly identical location.
In their advisory, UKMTO stated, “We have received a report of an incident 2NM north of Oman, with a container ship hit by an unknown projectile just above the waterline, causing a fire in the engine room.” They also noted that there have been no reports of environmental damage, and that investigations are ongoing.
The Safeen Prestige is a 1,740-TEU containership owned by Safeen Feeders, part of AD Ports Group. The company announced on Wednesday that most of their fleet is currently operating outside the immediate conflict area.
“Across the Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, most of our 122 vessels including container, bulk, Ro-Ro, and multipurpose ships are operating outside the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said. “Those that are within the Strait are continuing their intra-Gulf services, and the overall impact on our Maritime & Shipping Cluster is expected to be limited.”
The attack on the Safeen Prestige is just one of several incidents affecting commercial vessels in the region recently.
According to the latest summary from UKMTO, several maritime security incidents occurred across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman between March 3 and March 4, highlighting a “volatile” security environment with ongoing military activities impacting commercial shipping.
In another incident on Monday, a ship located about seven nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE, was hit by an unknown projectile that damaged its steel plating.
“The Master of the vessel reported being struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the steel plating,” UKMTO noted. “However, there was no fire or water intake, and all crew members are safe.” This vessel was identified as the MV Gold Oak, a bulk carrier flagged in Panama.
Another merchant ship operating roughly 137 nautical miles east of Muscat reported hearing a loud explosion nearby and saw smoke in the water. Additionally, the product tanker Libra Trader experienced a near-miss explosion about 10 nautical miles east of Fujairah on March 3, 2026, with debris from an unknown projectile found on the ship’s deck.
Furthermore, an advisory released on March 4 indicated that a containership named MSC Grace, located 20 nautical miles west of Dubai, reported observing a splash from an unknown projectile, although no damage occurred.
The Wednesday attack comes amid a rapidly worsening security situation in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, particularly following recent direct military confrontations between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has raised the regional maritime threat level to CRITICAL due to confirmed missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and surrounding areas, indicating that further attacks are likely.
Within the first 24 hours of the conflict, five vessels were reported to have been hit or targeted, according to security analysts. These incidents highlight the increasing risks facing global shipping in the narrow maritime area linking the Persian Gulf to open waters. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route, carrying approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Maritime insurers and security analysts warn that continued attacks could disrupt commercial traffic through the strait, which has already seen a sharp decline in shipping activity as companies reassess the risks of operating in the region.
UKMTO has advised vessels operating in the area to remain vigilant. “Ships are urged to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activities to UKMTO,” the organization stated.