A Panama-flagged container ship fired upon by Iranian boats during rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship had 21 Indian crew members, and they are safe, according to India’s shipping ministry on Thursday. Another container vessel was also heading to India after passing through the waterway.
Ship 21 Indian crew members in Hormuz Strait for safety purpose
The Euphoria is one of three ships attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran is resisting a US blockade of its shipping and trying to reassert its control over the strait, which usually carries a fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
The other ships attacked were the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberian-registered Epaminondas, which was on its way to Mundra port in India.
“A vessel, Euphoria, had 21 Indian seafarers on board, and all of them safe,” said Mukesh Mangal. The Euphoria also has one Burmese crew member.
What’s behind the attack?
Iranian media reported that the Euphoria stranded on the Iranian coast after the attack. However, ship tracking websites show the ship is near the Oman coast and list its current destination as Khor Fakkan port. A senior official in the shipping ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned late on Thursday that the vessel is sailing toward its original destination of Jeddah.
Real-time tracking of maritime traffic in the strait hindered by widespread jamming and spoofing of transponder data. Meanwhile, the Gibraltar-flagged bulk carrier Frosso K, carrying 55,000 metric tonnes of sulphur, passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and is heading to Paradip port in India, the shipping ministry reported. The Frosso K included on a priority list of 15 vessels identified by the Department of Fertilizers for evacuation from the Persian Gulf.
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