New hostilities in Strait of Hormuz bring transits to a halt

Vessel crossings of the Strait of Hormuz are reported to have slowed to a standstill following an attack on a Cyprus-flagged vessel on Saturday, prompting widespread retaliatory US strikes on Iranian installations.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said on Sunday it had received a report of an incident 9NM east of Oman. Military authorities reported that a container ship had sustained damage to the rear of the vessel which caused a fire onboard. The crew were forced to abandon the vessel in a lifeboat and were subsequently rescued by local authorities.

The UN Secretary-General said on Sunday he was “deeply concerned” by the developments and urged all parties to exercise “maximum restraint”. He also called for the restoration of "full freedom of navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz.