A major French shipping company announced Wednesday that one of its cargo vessels suffered an attack in Middle Eastern waters, leaving multiple crew members wounded and causing damage to the ship.
The container ship San Antonio, operated by CMA CGM, came under attack Tuesday while navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, according to company officials. This marks another disruption to one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors during ongoing regional conflicts.
The continuing Middle East warfare has created significant obstacles for international maritime commerce, with hundreds of ships unable to proceed and approximately 20% of worldwide oil transportation effectively halted.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his decision to temporarily suspend operations designed to provide naval escort protection for commercial vessels in the strait, stating there has been “great progress” toward reaching a broader deal with Iran.
Company representatives confirmed that wounded crew members have been removed from the San Antonio and are receiving medical treatment. CMA CGM officials refused to provide additional details about the attack.
This represents the second incident involving the French shipping giant in recent weeks. Last month, another CMA CGM vessel faced warning gunfire in the same waterway, though no personnel were hurt in that encounter.
The maritime company, which ranks as the globe’s third-largest container shipping operation, previously reported that 14 of its ships remained stuck in Gulf waters when the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began. Only one vessel, the CMA CGM Kribi, managed to clear the Strait of Hormuz in early April.
Maritime tracking information shows the attacked vessel San Antonio, which flies under Malta’s flag, was headed toward the Indian port of Mundra.
