Merchant vessel struck in the Strait of Hormuz

A merchant vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of August 18. The impact damaged the engine room, and one crew member was injured.

The incident was reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). According to its data, the operator's security service reported the strike as the vessel was making an outbound transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

After the impact, the Omani coast guard began providing assistance to the rest of the crew. There is currently no information about marine pollution or other environmental consequences. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

UKMTO did not disclose the vessel's name, flag, owner, or nature of cargo. It has also not been officially established who carried out the attack or what type of weapon was used. Therefore, linking the incident to a specific party in the conflict is premature at this stage.

Shipping risks through Hormuz remain high

This is not the first attack on merchant vessels in the strait area recently. On August 15, UKMTO confirmed another unidentified projectile strike on a bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was unharmed at that time.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the key routes for global energy supplies, so attacks on merchant vessels directly increase risks for carriers. Earlier, "Kurs Ukrainy" wrote that due to the danger, some vessels pass through the strait with altered routes and automatic identification systems turned off.

Amid tensions around Hormuz, global oil prices also remain sensitive to any reports of new attacks or restrictions on vessel movement.

Based on materials from: UKMTO, Al Jazeera, LaPresse