The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on June 25 (local time) that it had received a report of a suspected attack on a cargo ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman.
According to Reuters, the vessel reported that its starboard side was struck by a projectile 7.5 nautical miles southeast of the port of Duqm, Oman.
The UKMTO added that while there was damage to the bridge, there were no casualties or environmental damage, and authorities are currently investigating the incident.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing two senior U.S. administration officials, that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a one-way suicide drone to attack the ship.
Reuters also cited multiple U.S. officials stating that the attack was carried out by Iranian fire.
According to the British maritime risk management firm Vanguard and maritime sources, the vessel is the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Able.
However, the ship's owner, Taiwan's Evergreen, did not provide a response regarding the matter.
The WSJ reported that the Ever Able had been trapped in the Persian Gulf after loading cargo in Iraq and was attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Three other ships were following the Ever Able, but the Iranian side attacked without warning, the report said.
Earlier on June 25, the IRGC announced that safe passage is only guaranteed when vessels follow routes designated by Iran, and that it would take action against ships that do not comply.
Furthermore, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established by the Iranian government to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, announced on X (formerly Twitter), "We cannot guarantee safe passage for vessels navigating outside of our designated zones, and they will be excluded from insurance coverage and related liability claims."
The authority further warned, "The ship owners, operators, and captains are solely responsible for all consequences resulting from the use of unauthorized routes."
Following the attack on the ship, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it has decided to temporarily suspend the withdrawal plan for ships and crew in the Strait of Hormuz, which it had announced just the day before, on June 24.
Previously, the IMO had announced that it was launching an operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and 11,000 crew members from the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Oman would provide a temporary transit route for this purpose.
However, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated, "Several ships have successfully exited the strait under this plan," but added, "We have decided to temporarily suspend the implementation to reaffirm that the necessary safety guarantees remain in place."
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