LONDON: A container ship’s crew was forced to abandon their vessel after it sustained damage near the coast of Oman, triggering a fire on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday.
According to the UKMTO, the incident occurred around nine nautical miles (16.7 kilometres) east of Oman. The agency initially reported receiving information about a maritime incident in the area before issuing an updated advisory confirming that the situation had escalated.
The UKMTO said military authorities, together with the vessel’s security officer, informed the agency that the ship had suffered damage to its stern, which resulted in a fire breaking out on board.
As a precaution, the entire crew abandoned the vessel and transferred safely to a lifeboat. No immediate reports of casualties or injuries were released.
Maritime authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The UKMTO has not disclosed the identity of the vessel, its flag, cargo or the cause of the damage.
The advisory comes amid heightened security concerns in regional waters, where commercial shipping has faced increased risks in recent years. However, officials have not indicated whether the latest incident was linked to any hostile activity.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and additional information becomes available.
