Panama-flagged container ship hit by missile in Gulf of Oman

A Panama-flagged container ship has been struck by a missile in the Gulf of Oman, AzerNEWS reports, citing Reuters.

According to the company, the container ship Vela Nova was attacked approximately 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving a tanker and military forces. UKMTO later clarified that the vessel involved was a container ship, rather than a tanker.

The container ship’s registered owner is listed as Golden Valley Marine Investment in Liberia and operated by Doris Shipping & Trading. According to Pole Star Global’s PurpleTrac its beneficial owner is unknown.

The UKMTO, run out of Bahrain, monitors and issues security advisories for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and the wider Indian Ocean region.

No information has yet been provided regarding the fate of the crew members or the condition of the vessel.