One seafarer missing after bulk carrier catches fire near Strait of Hormuz

London: 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, Xinhua News Agency reported.

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 (UKMTO) 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.

The UKMTO said it received a report from military authorities at 2200 GMT on Monday. The cargo vessel reported via VHF radio that it had been struck by an unknown projectile, the warning noted.

Shipping information showed that the vessel, Minoan Pioneer, is a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier operated by a Greek company.

The UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.

As tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, the UKMTO has reported a series of maritime security incidents, most of which occurred off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday negotiations between Iran and Oman are focused on reaching an agreement on designating a “temporary” route to ensure safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The negotiations have been focused on the idea that the southern route, which passes through Oman’s waters, and the northern route, which passes through Iran’s territorial waters, would turn into an intermediate route,” Baghaei said at a weekly press conference in Tehran.

He said the talks are centred on a round-trip corridor, not two or three separate routes, and the intermediate route will be used temporarily until a permanent one is finalised.

IANS