Key facts
- A ship is on fire eight nautical miles northwest of Oman's Kumzar.
- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the incident.
- The cause of the fire has not yet been verified.
- Authorities are investigating the circumstances.
- The GFS Galaxy container ship was attacked by Iran's IRGC, sustaining damage and a fire.
- A crew member is missing following the attack on the GFS Galaxy.
A vessel is ablaze eight nautical miles northwest of Oman's Kumzar, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. Information was received from military authorities, but the cause of the fire remains unverified.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity. The UKMTO did not disclose the name of the vessel in its initial advisory.
Separately, the U.S. Central Command stated that the GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, was attacked by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The attack resulted in damage to the rear of the vessel, causing a fire, particularly in the engine room, and leaving one crew member missing. The ship was unable to continue its journey.
This incident occurs amidst heightened tensions in the waters around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint. The U.S. military has been encouraging ships to travel via routes near Oman to avoid Iranian control, as exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran have escalated.