US disables a Panama-flagged container ship off the coast of Pakistan
US forces struck the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, leaving it unable to steer, after it attempted to head for an Iranian port in violation of the naval blockade imposed by Washington, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed.
On Tuesday, US forces disabled the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman, preventing it from approaching an Iranian port. The vessel, sailing westbound, attempted to violate the naval blockade imposed by Washington, according to CENTCOM. A MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room after the crew ignored repeated warnings, disabling its steering gear.
The crew was transferred to another vessel. The incident occurred approximately 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan, where all 17 crew members are reported to be safe. The Panamanian flag is an open registry, not indicative of any direct connection to the Panamanian state or ownership. This marks the third vessel disabled since the US reimposed the blockade on July 14, with a total of 55 commercial vessels redirected, three disabled, and two boarded by CENTCOM.
The Vela Nova's recent visits to Mumbai and Port Klang, ports used by vessels linked to Iran, highlight heightened scrutiny of Iran-related shipping. The strike comes amid relative calm following the collapse of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, and a 13-day escalation in July.
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