LONDON, Aug. 4– A bulk carrier caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one seafarer missing, a maritime intelligence firm said Tuesday.
The projectile reportedly struck the vessel’s engine room, while a fire later broke out in the accommodation area and the vessel’s third engineer was reported missing, according to British maritime security firm Vanguard.
A nearby tanker said the vessel suffered a complete blackout after the attack.
British media, citing sources familiar with the incident, reported that the crew abandoned the vessel after battling the fire and requesting external assistance.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in a warning issued late Monday that the incident occurred about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping information showed that the vessel, Minoan Pioneer, is a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier operated by a Greek company. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
