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Two bulk carriers have been struck by projectiles in separate attacks while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in two crew casualties, including one seafarer killed aboard the Liberia-flagged Minoan Dignity.
UKMTO said Tuesday that it received a report of an incident involving a vessel conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz on August 17.
The ship was struck by an unknown projectile that damaged its engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, according to UKMTO Warning 115-26. The remaining crew were being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard. No environmental impact had been reported.
INTERCARGO subsequently identified the vessel as the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Dignity and confirmed that a seafarer had died in the attack.
"Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with his family, colleagues and loved ones," INTERCARGO said. "We also express our profound concern for the remaining crew and hope for their safe evacuation."
INTERCARGO reiterated that merchant mariners are civilians and should not become casualties of geopolitical conflicts.
"Behind every vessel caught up in conflict are seafarers – civilians carrying out their professional duties, far from their homes and families, who keep global trade moving," the group said. "Seafarers are civilians and must never become targets or collateral victims of geopolitical conflicts."
The group called on all parties to respect international law and protect civilian seafarers and merchant vessels, adding: "One seafarer lost is one too many."
UKMTO separately disclosed another attack on a bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz that occurred two days earlier.
Warning 116-26, issued Tuesday as a time-late report, said a third party reported that a bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile at approximately 2200 UTC on August 15 while transiting the strait.
The impact damaged the starboard side of the vessel and resulted in a crew casualty. UKMTO did not identify the vessel or provide details about the condition of the injured crew member.
No environmental impact was reported in that incident.
Both attacks occurred near the Strait's southern approaches in the vicinity of Oman's Musandam Peninsula, according to maps accompanying the UKMTO warnings.
Martine Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, described it as a "busy and dangerous" 24 hours for maritime security, noting the Minoan Dignity attack followed strikes on three ADNOC-linked vessels over the weekend.
Separately, the IRGC reportedly stopped the Liberia-flagged tanker Amara near Qeshm Island for allegedly failing to comply with Iran's transit requirements, including authorization and payment of fees. Iran had warned that toll-free passage could end following the expiration Sunday of the 60-day period.
The attacks add to an already mounting human toll among civilian mariners caught in the conflict surrounding one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints.
As of mid-July, at least 15 seafarers had been confirmed killed and dozens more injured since attacks on commercial shipping intensified earlier this year. The death aboard Minoan Dignity would bring that confirmed toll to at least 16.
Shipping organizations have repeatedly warned that civilian crews are increasingly bearing the consequences of military operations in the region.
In June, BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO issued a rare joint statement calling for an immediate halt to attacks on merchant vessels and stressing that seafarers "should never be collateral damage, victims or instruments of political or military pressure."
The International Maritime Organization has also warned shipowners and operators against exposing crews to unacceptable risks. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said previously that the security situation had deteriorated to the point where safe passage through the strait could not be considered to exist.
UKMTO said authorities are investigating both of the latest incidents and advised vessels transiting the region to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.
