The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that it has received a report of a suspected attack on a cargo ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman.

The vessel is believed to be the Singapore-flagged container ship Everably. It reported that its starboard side was struck by a projectile 7.5 nautical miles southeast of the port of Dalkut, Oman.

The UKMTO stated that while there is damage to the ship's bridge, there have been no casualties or environmental damage, and that relevant authorities are investigating the incident.

A maritime security source told Reuters that while it is unclear who carried out the attack, it is possible that a drone targeted the vessel.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has previously stated that safe passage is only guaranteed when following 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 social media, "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 shipowner, operator, and captain are solely responsible for all consequences arising from the use of unauthorized routes."

Following the attack on the vessel, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it has decided to temporarily suspend the evacuation plan for ships and crew in the Strait of Hormuz, which it had announced just one day prior 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 temporary shipping lanes 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."

Secretary-General Dominguez continued, "We have been notified of the attack (on the cargo ship) in the Gulf of Oman today, and this vessel was not transiting under the IMO's evacuation framework," explaining that "the evacuation plan will be suspended until further clarity is obtained to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)