By Andrew Kariuki
A container ship was damaged after being struck by a suspected projectile off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) as tensions escalate in the Gulf region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UKMTO said the master of a container vessel reported that the ship had sustained damage from what appeared to be an unidentified projectile.
Authorities said the extent of the damage remained unclear, but confirmed that all crew members aboard the vessel were safe.
The incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
Maritime authorities have urged vessels operating in the region to exercise heightened caution while investigations into the incident continue.
The development comes amid growing tensions in the Gulf following Iran’s retaliatory actions in response to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently claimed it had “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is less than 30 miles (48 kilometres) wide at its narrowest point, is shared by Iran on one side and Oman on the other and serves as one of the world’s most critical routes for global energy shipments.
According to data compiled by the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the International Maritime Organization and Iranian authorities, at least ten oil tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz were struck, targeted or reported attacks between March 1 and March 10.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of “unprecedented military consequences” if Tehran proceeds with threats to mine the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian officials declared that no Gulf oil would be allowed to pass through the waterway.
The White House also clarified earlier Tuesday that the United States had not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, after a social media post from the U.S. Energy Secretary briefly suggested otherwise before being deleted.
The latest maritime incident underscores growing security concerns in the Gulf, a region vital to global oil and trade flows.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as investigations into the projectile strike are ongoing.
