A bulk carrier operated by Star Bulk Carriers, the Greek-linked shipping company controlled by shipowner Petros Pappas, was among three commercial vessels struck by projectiles Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh security concerns along one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The Star Gwyneth, an 83,000-deadweight-ton bulker built in 2006 and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was hit by a projectile about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to maritime risk management company Vanguard.
The impact damaged the vessel’s hull, but the crew was reported safe.
Star Bulk Carriers, listed in New York and controlled by Pappas, operates one of the world’s largest fleets of dry bulk carriers, transporting commodities such as iron ore, grain, fertilizers and steel products across global trade routes.
Three Ships Targeted in Separate Incidents
The strike on the Star Gwyneth was the third reported attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime security sources.
Earlier, the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit by an unidentified projectile roughly 11 nautical miles north of Oman. The attack triggered a fire onboard, forcing most of the crew to evacuate the ship.
The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. ROYAL THAI NAVY/Handout via REUTERS
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) later said the fire had been extinguished and there was no environmental impact. Essential crew members remained onboard.
In a separate incident, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty sustained minor damage after being struck by an unknown projectile about 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
All crew members on that vessel were safe, and the ship was sailing toward a secure anchorage, according to maritime security sources.
Vital Energy Route
The incidents occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman that serves as one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.
The strait is considered a key global oil transit chokepoint, carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making disruptions in the area a major concern for global energy markets and international shipping.
Tensions around the waterway have escalated since the war started. According to Reuters the U.S. military said it had “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any mines laid in the strait by Iran must be removed immediately.
Trump had previously said the United States had “completely destroyed” 10 inactive mine-laying vessels, signaling a growing military response aimed at keeping the strategic waterway open.
