A commercial vessel has been struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire and forcing the evacuation of its crew, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday. UKMTO said local authorities were assisting with the evacuation after the vessel was hit and caught fire.
The agency did not identify the vessel, the source of the projectile or the party responsible for the attack. The incident adds to mounting security risks for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints and a critical route for global energy supplies.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities investigate the incident. Initial reports did not provide details of the extent of damage to the vessel or any possible environmental impact. The latest attack comes as maritime traffic through Hormuz faces severe disruption amid escalating regional tensions.
Vessel transits through the strait had fallen sharply, while the United States has redirected commercial vessels in the region because of the heightened security environment. The incident also follows a series of attacks and security warnings affecting commercial shipping in and around the strait.
The continuing threat has increased pressure on shipowners and operators already dealing with higher insurance, security and operational costs, while raising further concerns over the reliability of a waterway central to global oil and gas trade. The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Its narrow sea lanes carry a substantial share of global energy shipments, making any sustained disruption potentially significant for oil markets, freight rates and international supply chains. The latest incident comes as tensions are also rising around the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea, where Houthi military advances and previous attacks on commercial vessels have already forced many shipping lines to reassess routes through the region.