London, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A bulk carrier caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one crew member missing, a maritime security firm said on Tuesday.
According to British maritime intelligence firm Vanguard, the projectile hit the vessel’s engine room, following which a fire broke out in the accommodation area. The ship’s third engineer was reported missing after the incident.
A nearby tanker reported that the vessel suffered a complete blackout following the strike, Xinhua News Agency reported.
British media, citing sources familiar with the incident, reported that the crew abandoned the vessel after attempting to contain the fire and seeking external assistance.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
In an advisory issued late Monday, UKMTO said it received information from military authorities at 2200 GMT regarding the incident. The cargo vessel reported through VHF radio that it had been hit by an unknown projectile.
Shipping records identified the vessel as Minoan Pioneer, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier operated by a Greek company.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to the agency.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with UKMTO reporting several maritime security incidents in recent weeks, many of them occurring off Oman’s coast near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said talks between Iran and Oman are focused on establishing a temporary shipping route to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei said the discussions involve creating an intermediate route, with one section passing through Omani waters and another through Iran’s territorial waters, until a permanent arrangement is finalised.
He clarified that the negotiations concern a temporary round-trip corridor rather than multiple separate routes.
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