A merchant tanker was left abandoned after being hit by an unknown projectile close to the Strait of Hormuz, according to an updated report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident happened about 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, along a southern route that the U.S. coordinates near Oman’s coastline.
UKMTO first indicated that a vessel was on fire after receiving alerts from military sources. Later on Monday, they updated the report to classify the event as an attack, confirming with the security officer of the ship that it had indeed been struck.
As per UKMTO, the crew successfully abandoned the tanker and was rescued by a tugboat. The fire is still burning, and the vessel is now adrift. So far, there have been no reports of environmental damage.
The agency has advised other vessels in the area to stay cautious and report any suspicious activities while the investigation is ongoing.
The tanker is thought to be the Kavomaleas, a Panamax tanker flying the Malta flag and managed by Dynacom Tankers from Greece.
Dynacom confirmed that the tanker was hit by two projectiles, which caused a fire in the engine room.
“After activating the ship's fire suppression system, the captain decided to evacuate the vessel,” the company explained.
All crew members were rescued by Omani authorities and safely brought to shore, according to the company.
This attack comes as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rising, with renewed clashes between the United States and Iran.
On Sunday night, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out its ninth night in a row of strikes against Iranian military positions, targeting coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch areas, communication networks, and command centers. CENTCOM stated that these strikes are aimed at further diminishing Iran's ability to threaten commercial ships and civilian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.
This incident represents the latest in a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the region, where merchant vessels face rising threats as military operations and maritime security concerns increase.