Middle East shipping on alert: Container ship struck by projectile near Iran coast

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in an advisory note on Tuesday that the master of a merchant vessel reported that the vessel was hit by a projectile.

A container vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage above the waterline. The incident occurred at 00:45 UTC on April 7, about 25 nautical miles south of Kish Island, Iran, according to a warning issued by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO had received a time late report from the captain of the container vessel on April 7.

The crew are safe and accounted for while no environmental impact has been reported. Authorities are reportedly investigating the incident.

UKMTO advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

During the period 28 February to 7 April, UKMTO has received 28 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman. The total reports UKMTO received for attacks are 17, with the reports for suspicious activity reaching 11.

Sixteen Indian vessels with 433 seafarers remain in Persian Gulf region

Sixteen Indian-flagged vessels with 433 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region, India’s ministry of petroleum and natural gas said on Tuesday.

Sharing the details in an official statement, it further noted that the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,691 Indian seafarers so far, including 92 in the last 24 hours from airports and various regional locations across the Gulf.

Despite the ongoing regional tensions, the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways assured that all necessary measures have been instituted to ensure the safety and security of Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region.

As per the ministry, all Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

It further noted that the DG Shipping in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions, continues to closely monitor the situation.

As per the ministry, the DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 5,342 calls and 11,053 emails since activation, including 229 calls and 406 emails in the past 24 hours.

Port operations across India continue normally with no congestion reported. State Maritime Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Keralam, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry have confirmed the smooth functioning.

The ministry said that it continues to coordinate with the ministry of external affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure the welfare of Indian seafarers and that maritime operations remain uninterrupted.