Cargo Vessel Struck by “Unknown Projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz

A container ship caught fire after being struck by an “unknown projectile” while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel.

The Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was hit at approximately 11:09 a.m. local time while sailing eastbound through the strait, according to the British maritime security company Vanguard. The projectile reportedly struck just above the waterline, igniting a fire in the engine room.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed it received a report of an incident two nautical miles north of Oman involving an eastbound vessel.

“A container ship has reported being struck by an unknown projectile just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room,” UKMTO said in a statement.

In a subsequent update, UKMTO confirmed that the crew abandoned the ship and were later accounted for, with no injuries reported.

“All crew members have been located and are safe. Authorities are investigating the incident,” the agency added.

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime corridor between Iran and Oman — is widely regarded as the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the waterway each day, making any disruption there a matter of immediate international concern.

Authorities have not yet identified the source of the projectile, and investigations are ongoing.