Unidentified Projectiles Strike Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz

The Greek-flagged LNG carrier Maran Gas Mystras was struck by an unidentified projectile while exiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Initial reports from Greece indicated that the projectile hit near the waterline, causing smoke to rise from the vessel. Despite the incident, the ship remained fully operational and continued its voyage under its own power. The company, Maran Gas, confirmed that the vessel and its crew are safe, with no operational damage or sea pollution reported.

The origin and type of the projectile remain unknown as of Monday morning. The incident has not yet been added to the International Maritime Organization's list of confirmed events in the Middle East, which was last updated on October 5 and includes 93 confirmed incidents in the region.

This marks the second such incident in two days. On the previous day, the tanker Lipsi, managed by George Prokopiou's Dynacom, was hit by an unidentified projectile in the same strait. The strike damaged the engine room, causing the vessel to lose propulsion and drift. The crew of the Lipsi was unharmed, and no pollution was recorded. Following the attack, the British UK Maritime Trade Operations service issued a warning.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for exports of Qatari liquefied natural gas, with no alternative sea route available. According to the International Energy Agency, over 112 billion cubic meters of LNG passed through the strait in 2025, accounting for nearly 20% of global LNG trade. Approximately 90% of these volumes were destined for Asia.