Tensions Rise Again in the Strait of Hormuz as Cargo Ship Is Hit, Halting Vessel Withdrawal Efforts

[Financial News] A cargo ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s coast was believed to have come under a projectile attack, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to suspend a vessel withdrawal plan it had been pursuing just one day after it began. The incident came shortly after Iran warned ships against deviating from designated routes, reigniting tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the 25th local time, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report that a cargo ship sailing 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Dahit Port was struck on its starboard side by a projectile.
UKMTO said part of the ship’s bridge was damaged, but there were no casualties or marine pollution. It added that the relevant authorities were investigating the circumstances of the incident.
A maritime security source said the attacker had not been identified, but the incident may have been a drone strike.
According to British maritime crisis management firm Vanguard and industry sources, the vessel hit was the Singapore-flagged container ship Everably. However, its owner, Evergreen Marine Corp., did not respond to inquiries.
The incident occurred shortly after Iran issued its warning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that only ships using routes designated by Iran could sail safely, and that it could take action against vessels that failed to comply.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), an agency under the Iranian government, also warned on X that "ships operating outside the designated route cannot be guaranteed safety and may be excluded from insurance and compensation coverage." It added, "All responsibility for using unauthorized routes lies with the shipowner, the vessel operator, and the captain."
After the attack, the IMO decided to temporarily suspend the vessel and crew evacuation plan for the Strait of Hormuz that it had announced the previous day.
The IMO had earlier launched an operation to withdraw hundreds of ships and 11,000 crew members from the Strait of Hormuz, and said Oman would provide a temporary route for the effort.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said, "Several ships have safely exited the strait under the withdrawal framework," but added, "We decided to temporarily suspend the plan to reconfirm whether safety guarantees remain in place."
He added, "We were informed of the cargo ship attack in the Gulf of Oman, and the vessel did not use the IMO-coordinated evacuation system," and said, "The withdrawal plan will remain suspended until navigational safety and further clarity are secured."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter