A container ship operating alongside in Khor Fakkan reported multiple unknown projectiles striking the water nearby on 5 April, in the latest sign that maritime security risks in the Gulf remain elevated. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said the vessel’s master reported several splashes close to the ship while cargo operations were underway.
Khor Fakkan, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, has become increasingly important as carriers use it to move cargo into the Gulf through landbridge connections across the UAE. Any security incident there therefore carries significance well beyond the immediate port area.
The report follows Iran’s claim on 4 April that it had struck the container vessel MSC Ishyka in the Strait of Hormuz, allegedly causing a fire. However, that attack has not been independently verified. Tracking data indicated that the Liberian-flagged MSC Ishyka III, the ship with the closest matching name, was last reported alongside at Bahrain’s ASRY yard on 3 April.
