Container ship hit, catches fire off Oman: UKMTO
London, July 12
A container ship sustained damage and caught fire following an incident off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
The UKMTO, on Saturday, said it received a report of the incident about 16.7 km east of the Gulf country at 2240 GMT Saturday.
"Military authorities have reported that a container ship has sustained damage to the rear of the vessel, which has caused a fire onboard," the advisory said, adding that authorities were investigating the incident.
The UKMTO did not disclose the name of the vessel, Xinhua news agency reported.
Separately, the US Central Command said that the GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, was attacked by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps when transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member missing.
The vessel was unable to continue its journey due to an onboard fire and significant damage to its engine room, the command added.
According to maritime tracking data, the GFS Galaxy measures about 304 meters in length overall and 40 meters in width, and was last reported in the Persian Gulf two days ago.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in waters around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
On Sunday, the US military launched a new round of strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
"A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage," the US Central Command said in a statement on X.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another day, another incident in the Gulf. The US strikes on Iran are not helping either—it's like adding fuel to the fire. India should be preparing for oil price spikes and alternative routes. This is becoming a recurring nightmare for global trade.
Just when we thought things couldn't get worse in the Middle East... 😔 The IRGC targeting a civilian container ship is unacceptable. But launching more strikes won't solve the root cause. We need de-escalation, not retaliation. Prayers for the missing crew member's family.
I'm worried about the impact on Indian shipping companies operating in the region. The Chabahar port was supposed to give us an alternative, but it's not fully operational yet. The government needs to fast-track diplomatic talks and ensure our trade routes are secure. This is not just a Middle East problem—it's an Indian problem.
The US and UKMTO reports are confusing—first it's "an incident," then it's IRGC. Transparency matters! But honestly, who's surprised? The Strait of Hormuz has been a powder keg for decades. India should push for a neutral UN-led monitoring mission there.
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