London, June 25 (IANS) A cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman on Thursday, causing damage to its bridge but resulting in no casualties, according to a warning issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The UKMTO said it had received a report that a cargo vessel had been hit on its starboard side nearly 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit in Oman.

The vessel’s master reported that there were no injuries among the crew and no environmental damage resulting from the incident.

Authorities are investigating the attack, the UKMTO said, advising vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stressed that the only authorised routes for vessels’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz are the ones announced by Iranian authorities, Xinhua news agency reported.

It made the remarks in a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News while warning that ships’ movement through other routes is dangerous and prohibited.

Everyone must know that the only routes for passage through the strait are those announced by Iran, and traffic outside those routes is very dangerous and prohibited, and must be strictly avoided, it added.

The incident came as traffic through and around the Strait of Hormuz has been recovering, where the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Oman have recently launched a new safety corridor aimed at facilitating the passage of stranded vessels and seafarers through the strategic waterway.

On Tuesday, Iran and Oman issued a joint statement saying that they have agreed to establish a “joint working group” to negotiate the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirming their commitment to ensuring vessels’ safe passage through the waterway in accordance with international law.

IMO also announced an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

–IANS

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