Singapore, June 26 (IANS) Singapore-registered container ship EVER LOVELY sustained minor damage to its bridge area from an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said on Friday.
All 21 crew members on board are safe, and there are no Singaporeans on board, the authority said.
The vessel has since completed its passage through the Strait of Hormuz and is continuing on its voyage, the MPA added.
“MPA is deeply concerned about the incident, which was unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law,” it said. “All actions affecting international shipping must fully comply with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and not endanger the safety of seafarers and ships at sea,” it added, Xinhua news agency reported.
On Thursday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning saying a cargo vessel had been struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, causing damage to its bridge area but resulting in no casualties.
It said it had received a report that a cargo vessel had been hit on its starboard side nearly 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit in Oman.
The vessel’s master reported that there were no injuries among the crew and no environmental damage resulting from the incident.
Authorities are investigating the attack, the UKMTO said, advising vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stressed that the only authorised routes for vessels’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz are the ones announced by Iranian authorities, Xinhua reported.
It made the remarks in a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News while warning that ships’ movement through other routes is dangerous and prohibited.
Everyone must know that the only routes for passage through the strait are those announced by Iran, and traffic outside those routes is very dangerous and prohibited, and must be strictly avoided, it added.
–IANS
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