UKMTO Reports Incident Causing Severe Damage to Cargo Ship East of Oman

London, July 12 – The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an advisory on Saturday after receiving a distress call at 2240 GMT about a cargo vessel located approximately 16.7 kilometres east of the Omani coast. Military sources indicated that the ship's rear hull was breached, triggering a fire that quickly spread.

Officials are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the damage. The advisory did not disclose the vessel's name. Separately, U.S. Central Command reported that the Cyprus‑flagged GFS Galaxy, which was navigating the Hormuz Strait, came under fire from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, leaving one crew member unaccounted for.

Severe fire and engine‑room impairment forced the ship to halt its journey. Tracking information confirms the GFS Galaxy's dimensions at about 304 m by 40 m, with its last known position recorded in the Persian Gulf two days earlier.

The event occurs amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points.