A container ship has been struck by a missile while sailing through the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Pakistan, in an incident believed to involve an interdiction by the US Navy.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported receiving information about an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. However, maritime security company Vanguard Tech identified the vessel involved as the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova.
According to Vanguard Tech, the approximately 30-year-old vessel was travelling westbound through the Gulf of Oman when it was struck by a missile fired from a helicopter. The incident occurred around 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan.
AIS tracking data from Pole Star Global placed the Vela Nova in approximately the same area identified in the UKMTO report. The tracking provider subsequently indicated that the vessel was “not under command”.
A post shared on the social media platform X also reported that the Vela Nova was under attack.
The missile strike caused a fire on board the container ship. Vanguard Tech reported that the fire was later extinguished, but the situation led the crew to abandon the vessel.
All 17 crew members have been accounted for, according to the maritime security company.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identity of the forces responsible for the strike and the precise nature of the reported interdiction, remain subject to further clarification. The incident nevertheless adds another security concern to a strategically important maritime corridor used by commercial vessels transiting between the Middle East, South Asia and wider international markets.
