A ship was struck by a projectile of unknown origin in the Persian Gulf, near the coast of Iran, causing a fire to break out inside the vessel, according to a statement from the British maritime security agency UKMTO. The incident occurred on Friday evening (October 30), approximately 40 nautical miles south of the Iranian island of Lavan, during a period of heightened tension in the Strait of Hormuz, where repeated attacks on commercial vessels have been reported.
According to the British agency, which is part of the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, the ship’s crew is safe, and so far there have been no reports of environmental impacts from the incident. Neither the identity of the ship nor the origin of the missile has been disclosed, while on Friday, Oman announced the rescue of 25 crew members from another commercial vessel that was attacked off its coast.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Trump: The war with Iran will end soon
The strike on the ship and the fire
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the attack was recorded at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Greenwich Mean Time (8:00 p.m. Greek time), in the Persian Gulf.
The ship was approximately 40 nautical miles—or 74 kilometers—south of the Iranian island of Lavan when it was struck on its port side by a projectile of unknown origin.
The impact caused a fire; however, according to initial reports, the crew members were not in danger.
The UKMTO clarified that no environmental damage has been reported, though it did not specify the type of projectile or who may be behind the attack.
Authorities continue to monitor the incident, with the British agency urging ships operating in the area to exercise increased caution and immediately report any suspicious activity.
New Attack and Rescue of 25 Sailors from Oman
The incident occurred amid reports of other attacks on commercial vessels in the wider Strait of Hormuz region.
On Friday, Omani authorities announced that the country’s Royal Navy had rescued 25 crew members from a Panamanian-flagged merchant ship, which had been attacked and caught fire approximately 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of the Musandam region.
The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Omani Maritime Security Center, and the survivors received the necessary medical care.
The Sultanate’s authorities did not provide further details regarding the circumstances of the attack or the identity of the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, it was reported that an injured crew member from an Indian-owned vessel that had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz was airlifted from a hospital in Hasab to a hospital in the capital, Muscat, for specialized care.
The Strait of Hormuz at the center of the tension
The island of Lavan is located approximately 300 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for the transport of oil and other energy products.
Before the war in the Middle East began, in February 2026, the amount of hydrocarbons passing through the Strait accounted for approximately 20% of global consumption.
The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, causing serious disruptions to maritime security in the region.
Since then, Tehran has imposed restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with the Revolutionary Guards repeatedly targeting ships attempting to pass without authorization from Iranian authorities.
For their part, the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, intensifying the standoff over control of maritime transport and access to energy exports.
The latest attacks are heightening concerns about the safety of commercial ships in the region, as the ongoing military confrontation is affecting one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Source: Proto Thema
