Vessel with 30-member crew reports attack near Strait of Hormuz, seeks assistance
London, July 24
A vessel carrying 30 crew members reported coming under attack and issued a distress call near the Strait of Hormuz, according to audio recordings from a public VHF maritime radio channel obtained exclusively by Xinhua from a seafarer on Friday.
In one recording, a caller identified by the seafarer as a US military operator repeatedly warned a merchant vessel that it was "non-compliant" for continuing toward Iranian waters.
"You are non-compliant by continuing towards Iran. You have been warned several times. I am preparing to fire at your engine room," the caller said, adding that the crew had 15 minutes to clear the engine room, Xinhua News Agency reported.
A later recording captured a vessel identifying itself as Disha reporting that it had come under attack.
"This is Disha. We are attacked by unknown missiles. We require immediate assistance. We have 30 crew on board. We require immediate assistance," the caller said, reporting the vessel's position near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident came amid heightened tensions in the region, with maritime traffic around the Strait of Hormuz facing security risks. US forces have recently resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
On Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of which caught fire after an explosion.
"Three oil tankers, provoked and tempted by the child-killing American army, were trying to pass through the mine-laid route south of the Strait of Hormuz, but after one of them exploded and caught fire, the other two quickly turned around and turned back," the IRGC said in a statement quoted by Iranian state media, warning that any ship "deceived" by the United States and intends to pass without Iran's consent "will suffer the same fate."
— IANS
Reader Comments
The US threatening to fire on a merchant vessel's engine room is alarming. These are civilian ships with innocent crew members, not warships. Iran's response is also troubling—blockading oil tankers and threatening more attacks. India should be pushing for a diplomatic solution at the UN. Our sailors' lives are at stake every time they transit these waters.
This is exactly what happens when superpowers play games in our neighborhood. The Strait of Hormuz is like a ticking time bomb. I feel for the 30 crew members on Disha—imagine being attacked by unknown missiles in the middle of the sea. 😢 India must step up its naval presence in the region to protect our interests and our people.
The US says they're warning vessels not to go toward Iran, and then a ship gets attacked by "unknown missiles"? Something doesn't add up. Where are these missiles coming from? Both sides are playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship. The international community needs to step in before a major disaster happens. Our Indian sailors are caught in the crossfire.
As someone who has worked in maritime logistics, I can tell you this is a nightmare scenario. The Strait of Hormuz sees about 20% of all global oil shipments. Any disruption there will send fuel prices skyrocketing worldwide, including in India where we already face high petrol and diesel costs. Governments need to prioritize safe passage for commercial vessels, period.
This is what happens when the US reimposes sanctions and Iran retaliates by threatening oil tankers.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.