Priority Broadcast Alert – Indian Ocean Region

UPDATE03: Authorities subsequently announced that ten of the eleven crew onboard the lifeboat were successfully rescued. At the time of writing, one crew member remained missing.

UPDATE02: Ambrey is aware that the crew had subsequently abandoned the vessel and were, at the time of writing, in the vessel’s lifeboat.

UPDATE01: US authorities subsequently confirmed that a Cyprus-flagged container vessel had been struck approximately 24NM northeast of Khasab, Oman. Reportedly, the missile impacted the vessel’s engine room, consequently disabling the vessel and causing a fire. One member of the crew was reportedly missing.

Iranian authorities released uncorroborated claims that they had targeted a merchant vessel with an anti-ship missile while it attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was reportedly attacked after disregarding Iranian Navy warnings over VHF that the Strait of Hormuz was closed to merchant traffic. Ambrey has not been able to verify these reports at the time of writing. The vessel was reportedly transiting with AIS off at the time of the incident. The Iranian navy announced that the closure was in response to what it called the “illegal designation of a shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman”.
ADVICE: Ambrey advises merchant shipping to coordinate with the US, Oman/IMO, or Iran (subject to an independent legal review) before conducting transits through the Strait of Hormuz. During ongoing transits, merchant vessels are advised to maintain coordination with relevant authorities. Bridge manning should be kept to the minimum required, and all other personnel should gather in designated safe muster points, away from external walls and windows. In the event of an incident, report using secure satellite communications. E-mail regular position reports to the U.S. using secure satellite internet communications.