Cargo Vessel Hit by Unknown Projectile in Arabian Gulf, UKMTO Reports

01/06/2026

DUBAI, Jun 1: A cargo vessel transiting the Arabian Gulf was struck by an unknown projectile on Monday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which reported a large explosion on the ship’s starboard side about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr in Iraq. No environmental impact or casualties have been reported, and investigations are ongoing. In a separate account, Iraqi media reported that the Panama-flagged vessel MSC SARISKA V experienced an explosion near buoy number 5 in waters close to Umm Qasr Port after unloading cargo, with a security source suggesting a possible internal mechanical fault rather than an external strike. Authorities are continuing to examine the cause of the incident amid conflicting preliminary reports.