Rescuers search for crew member after container ship attack in Strait of Hormuz

(Reuters)

NICOSIA, July 13 – An Indian crew member is still missing after a Cyprus-flagged container ship was hit ​in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and ‌a search operation is underway to find him, Cyprus’s Deputy Ministry of Shipping said on Monday.

Cypriot authorities said ​the vessel, the GFS Galaxy, was struck by ​an “unidentified projectile” while transiting the waterway early ⁠on Sunday.

The crew abandoned the ship on a ​lifeboat and 23 crew members were later rescued by ​the Oman Navy, Cyprus’s Deputy Ministry of Shipping said.

An Indian crew member, identified as holding the rank of third ​engineer, was still missing, Cyprus’s DMS said.

“The vessel ​is currently under tow toward the nearest safe anchorage at the ‌UAE ⁠port of Khor Fakkan. The towing team is actively conducting a search operation to locate the missing crew member,” Cyprus’s DMS said in an emailed ​comment to ​Reuters.

The U.S. ⁠military launched a new round of strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ​forces attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship.

Iran’s ​IRGC navy ⁠said it had struck and halted a vessel that had “jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems” ⁠after ​it, along with other vessels, ​attempted to transit through an unauthorised route despite warnings to correct ​its course.