Maritime security concerns resurface as cargo vessel reports strike, raising fresh questions over regional stability and shipping safety
The Strait of Hormuz has come under renewed scrutiny after the International Maritime Organization temporarily suspended its ship escort operation following a reported attack on a cargo vessel near Oman.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a cargo ship reported being struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman. The incident occurred hours after Iranian authorities warned vessels against using shipping routes that had not been approved by Tehran.
Two US officials told Reuters they believed Iranian forces had fired on the vessel. Iranian authorities, however, stated that ships travelling outside designated routes would not be guaranteed safe passage through the strategic waterway.
The vessel involved was identified by multiple sources as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely. A security source said the ship was likely targeted by a drone, although no official confirmation has been issued.
The incident prompted the International Maritime Organization to suspend its voluntary evacuation programme while it reassesses safety conditions for vessels operating in the region.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the organisation paused the operation to confirm that adequate safety guarantees remain in place for ships participating in the evacuation initiative. The IMO clarified that the affected vessel was not part of its escort programme.
The initiative, launched earlier this week, was designed to help hundreds of stranded ships and thousands of seafarers leave the Gulf safely through designated routes via Iranian and Omani waters under international coordination.
The reported attack immediately affected global energy markets, with benchmark oil prices rising about 2% as investors reacted to renewed concerns over maritime security and the stability of Gulf oil exports.
The Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, remains one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any attempt to threaten or block shipping through the strait would create serious consequences. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by reiterating that vessels should follow routes designated by Iranian authorities and confirmed that it had directed two Panama-flagged ships to alter their course.
Despite the latest security concerns, shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has continued to recover. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil exports through the waterway were approaching pre-conflict levels, while maritime data indicated crude shipments had reached their highest volume since the conflict began earlier this year.
