The chief engineer of the Greek-owned bulk carrier Minoan Dignity was killed after the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (Intercargo) and media reports.
The projectile hit the Liberia -flagged vessel’s engine room, causing fatal injuries to the chief engineer.
British maritime security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a merchant vessel sailing off the coast of Oman had been struck by an unidentified projectile, damaging its engine room and resulting in a crew casualty, while Omani authorities assisted the remaining crew and launched an investigation. The agency did not identify the vessel or determine responsibility for the attack.
Intercargo said it was deeply saddened by the death of the seafarer and extended condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. The organization also expressed concern for the safety of the remaining crew and called for their secure removal from the vessel. In its statement, the international dry cargo shipowners’ association reiterated that merchant seafarers are civilians whose work sustains global trade and that they should never be targeted or become collateral victims of military confrontations.
The attack comes amid continuing instability in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages linking the Persian Gulf with international shipping routes. Reuters reported on Tuesday that commercial vessel traffic through the strait remained exceptionally low amid heightened regional tensions, with only a handful of commodity ships making the transit compared with normal levels.
No government or armed group had claimed responsibility for the strike as of Tuesday, while authorities continued investigating the circumstances of the incident. The identity of the projectile and its origin therefore remain unconfirmed
