Vessel catches fire after projectile attack off Iran’s Lavan Island: UKMTO
- Crew reported safe, with no environmental impact reported following attack in Gulf waters
By Sahin Demir
ISTANBUL (AA) – A vessel caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile off Iran’s Lavan Island in the Gulf on Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.
In an advisory, the UKMTO said it received a report from the vessel’s master that the incident occurred at 1800GMT, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island.
The projectile struck the vessel’s port side, causing a fire onboard, the agency said.
All crew members were reported safe, with no environmental impact reported at the time of the advisory.
The UKMTO urged vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities investigate the incident.
The incident comes amid heightened security risks to commercial shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz following a series of attacks on vessels in recent months.
Earlier Friday, Omani authorities reported evacuating crew members from vessels targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, including 25 people rescued from a commercial ship that caught fire off the coast of Musandam.
Tensions over maritime security have persisted amid the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the US, raising concerns about navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments.
Şahin Demir