Cargo Ship Hit By Unidentified Projectile In Strait Of Hormuz, Several Crew Injured

A cargo vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO said it received the report from a verified source. The agency did not confirm the nature and origin of the projectile.

The agency added that the environmental impact remains unknown at this stage.

Authorities have begun investigating the incident, while vessels operating in the area have been advised to report any suspicious activity.

Per reports citing two US officials, the vessel may have been hit by a land-attack cruise missile.

The ship has been identified as the Maltese-flagged container vessel CMA CGM San Antonio, owned by a French company. The strike reportedly occurred late Tuesday local time.

Several crew members were injured in the incident, with reports indicating that those affected are Filipino nationals. The extent of damage to the vessel has not been confirmed.

Ship-tracking data showed the vessel was last located near Dubai around midday Tuesday.

Since the incident, the ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal has not been received, a measure often taken by vessels in high-risk areas for security reasons.

It remains unclear whether the vessel has moved from its last reported position.

The tensions have escalated in the region. The situation worsened after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran on February 28, followed by retaliatory actions targeting US allies and maritime activity in the Gulf.

A ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation took effect on April 8, but negotiations failed to reach a long-term agreement.

The truce was later extended without a fixed timeline. Since April 13, the United States has maintained a naval blockade aimed at Iranian maritime traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident also follows the introduction of a US-led maritime security corridor aimed at helping commercial vessels move safely through the strait.

The initiative had been in place for two days, and several ships, including both participants and non-participants, were reportedly targeted during that period.

Hours after the latest strike, President Trump announced that the corridor program would be paused for a short time to allow diplomatic talks.

He said the blockade on Iranian traffic would continue while efforts are made to reach an agreement.

Earlier the same day, US defense officials had said the security setup in the strait included multiple layers such as naval ships, aircraft, helicopters, drones and surveillance systems to protect commercial vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and any incident in the area continues to raise concerns for global shipping and energy supplies.

References: UKMTO, Reuters