Two ships attacked off Yemen and in Strait of Hormuz, one crew member killed

LONDON — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said two separate incidents occurred at sea, reporting that a cargo vessel was struck by unidentified projectiles off Mocha in southeastern Yemen and that another ship was hit by an unidentified projectile while transiting out of the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO said the vessel off Mocha was unmanned at the time of the attack and that the repair cost of the damage exceeded the insurance value. The agency added that a crew member died in the Hormuz incident and that the ship's machinery was damaged. UKMTO said no reports of environmental pollution had been received and that an investigation was underway. Oman's coast guard units were providing support to those affected, according to the agency. Reuters, citing maritime security sources, identified the vessel targeted in the Strait of Hormuz as the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Minwen Dignity and reported that the ship's chief engineer was killed in the attack. Daily vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to single digits from more than 130 before the U.S.-Iran war, according to figures cited in the report.