Maritime risk in the Strait of Hormuz is pivoting on a knife-edge after a container vessel came under fire about five to 15 nautical miles north of the Port of Khasab, off the northern tip of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula.
According to the BBC and Reuters, the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas, a 6 690 TEU post-Panamax vessel, is owned by shipping company Techoma and managed by Maersk.
By midday on April 22, shortly after the attack, unconfirmed reports stated that the attack had been carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Reports stated that an armed gunboat had approached the vessel without issuing any warning.
The vessel’s master reported the incident to UK Maritime Trade Operations, confirming that the bridge had sustained heavy damage, Container News reports.
There were no fires or environmental impact as a result of the attack, the site adds.
No crew member of the Epaminondas was injured in the incident.
The attack comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump announcing that the ceasefire in the wider Persian Gulf area has been extended.
However, the US Navy’s blockade of vessels heading to Iranian ports to the west and east of Hormuz continues, as does Iran’s threat to maritime traffic in the strait.
