A container ship experienced damage and a fire incident off the coast of Oman, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The UKMTO received information about the incident occurring approximately 16.7 km east of Oman at 2240 GMT on Saturday. The advisory stated that a container ship suffered damage at the rear, leading to an onboard fire, with authorities currently investigating the situation.
The UKMTO did not reveal the vessel’s name, as per Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, the US Central Command disclosed that the GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, was targeted by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a crew member going missing. Due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage, the vessel was unable to proceed with its journey.
The GFS Galaxy, with a length of about 304 meters and a width of 40 meters, was last seen in the Persian Gulf two days prior, according to maritime tracking data. This incident occurred amidst escalating tensions in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In response, the US military conducted additional strikes against Iran following the attack on the Cyprus-flagged container ship by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
