A cargo vessel flying under Malta’s flag was forced to evacuate its crew Wednesday after being struck by an unidentified projectile while navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime industry sources.
The container ship Safeen Prestige was traveling eastbound through the strategic waterway when it was hit approximately two nautical miles north of Oman at 11:09 GMT, according to Vanguard, a British company that monitors maritime security risks.
“The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room. No environmental impact has been reported at this time,” Vanguard reported.
The British navy’s maritime trade operations office, known as UKMTO, confirmed receiving notification about an unnamed container vessel being struck by an unidentified projectile, leading to the crew’s evacuation. Officials reported no crew members sustained injuries during the incident.
