A commercial cargo ship sailing in international waters near Qatar was struck by an unidentified projectile on Sunday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The vessel was traveling approximately 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha when the incident occurred. The projectile impact caused a minor fire aboard the ship, but crew members were able to extinguish the flames quickly.
The ship’s captain confirmed that no crew members were injured in the incident and that there was no damage to the marine environment, UKMTO officials reported.
Maritime authorities have launched an investigation to determine what type of projectile struck the vessel and where it originated from.
In response to the incident, officials have issued safety advisories for ships operating in the region. Vessel operators have been told to exercise extra caution while passing through the area and to immediately report any suspicious activities to UKMTO.
