As of today, approximately 150 container ships are blocked in the Persian Gulf area.

The UKMTO received a report of an incident that occurred 30 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait

The list of commercial vessels "victims" of the war launched last Saturday by the U.S. and Israel against Iran grows with the addition of the first container ship. This afternoon, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British naval unit that provides constant updates on risky areas, including those in the Middle East, reported an incident involving a vessel transiting eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz, two miles north of the Omani coast. According to the bulletin, the vessel "reported being struck by a projectile of unknown nature just above the waterline," which caused "a fire in the engine room."

Safeen Prestige, a small container ship 

Reuters reports that the vessel in question is the Safeen Prestige,(IMO 9593517, MMSI 249797000) a small container ship with a capacity of 1,740 TEU, sailing under the Maltese flag and owned by Transmar International Shipping of Abu Dhabi. The crew subsequently abandoned ship. Earlier today, the UKMTO released a statement reporting "suspicious activity" involving another container ship twenty miles west of Dubai. In that case, the vessel was not directly hit; however, the crew reported seeing a projectile of unknown origin hit the sea near the ship.

Seatrade Maritime estimates

Seatrade Maritime estimates that  between 138 and 147 container ships, carrying a total of 470,000 TEUs, are currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been closed to navigation since the Revolutionary Guards announced on March 2 that they would set fire to any ships attempting to pass.

The size of Iran's missile stockpile

According to a Reuters report  the size of Iran's missile stockpile is unclear, with estimates ranging from 2,500 (according to Israel) to 6,000 (according to other analysts). One of the objectives of the attacks is to destroy the country's missile capacity, which allows for the production of 10,000 missiles per month. Furthermore, supplies of war material from Russia or China are considered unlikely, and some available units have been sold to Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Continue impeding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz 

However, even if its stockpiles of aerial drones and missiles were to run out, some observers believe that Tehran could decide to continue impeding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by deploying its 5,000–6,000 naval mines. An analyst interviewed by the news agency stated that there is currently no evidence that these mines have been deployed in the waterway. If they were deployed, it would cause months of disruption to the Strait of Hormuz.

An incident 30 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al Kabeer,

Meanwhile The UKMTO has received a report of an incident 30 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait. The master of an anchored tanker reports having witnessed and heard a large explosion on the port side, followed by the departure of a small craft from the area. Oil is leaking from a cargo tank, which could have an environmental impact. The vessel has taken on water, but there are no reported fires, and the crew is safe. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution.

Related : A ship carrying oil was hit in the Strait of Hormuz

About : (UKMTO) 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is a Royal Navy organization that serves as the primary point of contact for merchant vessels and international maritime security forces in the Middle East. UKMTO provides 24/7 monitoring, security advice, and incident warnings, specializing in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean.

For over 20 years, UKMTO has been a trusted authority in the maritime security sector. They have helped protect crucial trade routes by providing mariners, shipping companies, and regional authorities with essential, verified, and corroborated security information. UKMTO's approach has always been, and will always be, to support mariners and maritime trade customers by providing information and reassurance.

Agencies 

#UKMTO #Strait of Hormuz #Mubarak Al Kabeer #port side #Seatrade Maritime #Reuters #First container ship # Safeen Prestige #Fire #Maltese flag #Transmar