A serious incident has been recorded in the Strait of Hormuz, where the dry cargo ship Minoan Pioneer, with a Liberian flag and Greek interests, was hit by an unidentified missile. As a result of the attack, one crew member is missing, while authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances.
According to reports, the attack occurred about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, on the evening of August 3. The United Kingdom Merchant Marine Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a merchant vessel reported on the VHF emergency channel that it had been hit by an unknown projectile.
Maritime security company Vanguard Tech identified the ship as the Minoan Pioneer, managed by Modion Maritime Management. The missile struck the engine room, causing a total power outage and a fire in the accommodation areas.
The crew managed to fight the flames and requested assistance from nearby ships. The ship's third engineer is still missing, and his nationality and the circumstances of his disappearance are unknown. It is not yet known whether the fire has been completely extinguished and whether the ship can continue sailing.
The incident comes just a day after two other incidents involving the tankers Egypt Prosperity and On Pride in Omani waters, raising concerns about the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors.
