London, August 4: A sailor is reported missing following an attack on the Liberian-flagged commercial vessel ‘Minoan Pioneer’ near the coast of Oman while transiting through the Hormuz Strait on Tuesday. All crew members were forced to abandon the ship after it was struck by a projectile, which caused a fire in the engine room.
According to the maritime security company Vanguard, the third engineer of the vessel is currently unaccounted for. A nearby tanker reported that a blackout occurred after the attack, indicating that the ship had come to a complete halt.
British media sources have indicated that the crew evacuated the ship after extinguishing the fire and calling for external assistance. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning late Monday night, stating that the incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, as the vessel was entering the Hormuz Strait.
UKMTO received a report from military officials at 2200 GMT on Monday, which noted that the cargo ship had reported an attack by an unidentified projectile via VHF radio. Shipping information revealed that the ‘Minoan Pioneer’ is a bulk carrier operated by a Greek company.
UKMTO has advised vessels passing through the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities to the agency. In recent weeks, tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated, leading to multiple reports of maritime security incidents, primarily near the Hormuz Strait off the coast of Oman.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei stated on Monday that discussions between Iran and Oman are focused on establishing a “temporary” route to ensure safe shipping in the Hormuz Strait. During a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baghaei mentioned that the talks aim to create a corridor that would serve as a middle route, passing through Omani waters to the south and Iranian territory to the north.
He added that the discussions are centered around a round-trip corridor rather than multiple separate routes, and this middle route will be temporarily utilized until a permanent solution is established.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.