A CARGO vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz reported a suspected attack after being struck by a projectile near the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), as tensions in the key global shipping lane continue to intensify.
The agency said the incident occurred as the ship attempted to pass through the strait and was struck on its starboard side approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit.
Reuters, citing a separate maritime security source, reported that the vessel was likely targeted by a drone, although responsibility for the strike has not yet been established.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization is currently assisting efforts to guide vessels out of the Gulf, where hundreds of ships are reportedly stranded amid escalating regional conflict since the outbreak of war involving Iran earlier this year.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would only be permitted along routes designated by Tehran, warning that action could be taken against vessels failing to comply.
“If Iran threatens or blocks ships in the strait, then we’re going to have a problem,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week during a Gulf visit, prior to the incident.
Oil markets reacted to the development, with prices rising by around 1%, as analysts warned the incident could further disrupt expectations over the stability of Gulf crude shipments.
The vessel involved was identified as the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, according to British maritime risk management group Vanguard and multiple maritime security sources.
UKMTO said initial assessments indicate the incident is being treated as an attack, with damage reported to the ship’s bridge. No casualties or environmental pollution have been reported.
The agency added that authorities are investigating the incident and has advised vessels in the area to proceed with extreme caution.
Ship owner Evergreen Marine Corp of Taiwan has not yet issued a public comment.
The latest incident adds to growing concern over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for global oil and gas shipments, where even limited disruption can have significant implications for energy markets and international trade. - June 26, 2026
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