Container ship damaged by gunboat fire near Oman, crew safe

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Wednesday that a commercial vessel was involved in an incident about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. According to the vessel’s master, the container ship was approached by a gunboat linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Gunboat opened fire without warning

The UKMTO stated that the gunboat did not issue a radio warning before opening fire, causing “heavy damage” to the ship’s bridge. Despite the severity of the attack, the agency confirmed: “No fires or environmental impact reported. All Crew reported safe.” The crew’s safety was secured, and no injuries have been reported.

Tensions remain high in Gulf waters

The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, where US-Iran ceasefire negotiations remain stalled and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues. The incident raises concerns about the safety of commercial shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and cargo shipments. No further details on the vessel’s identity or destination have been released.