Seafarer Killed in Hormuz Attack as Trump Pushes Iran Deal at UN

An Indian seafarer has been killed and another crew member injured after a bulk carrier was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest attack on merchant shipping as U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials pursue a new diplomatic opening at the United Nations.

UK Maritime Trade Operations said the cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile at around 0630 UTC Wednesday while transiting the strait. The vessel caught fire and was left adrift, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

The vessel has been identified as the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao. Lloyd’s List reported the ship was hit during a transit Wednesday morning and was not included on a list of vessels deemed “non-compliant” by Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed that 19 Indian nationals were among the crew and that one had been killed.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one Indian national in this attack,” the embassy said. “Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”

The mission said it was coordinating with Omani authorities and the vessel’s recruitment agency and was in contact with the family of the deceased.

UKMTO initially reported two casualties and said authorities were investigating. No environmental impact had been reported.

The deadly attack comes as Trump attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the United States and Iran have held their first indirect talks in months in an effort to find a path toward ending the nearly seven-month conflict.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi through mediators Wednesday, according to Reuters. Iranian officials said the contacts took place through Qatar and were not face-to-face. Neither side announced a change in its negotiating position. 

Trump, speaking at the General Assembly on Tuesday, paired the diplomatic effort with a warning that the United States could escalate military action if an agreement was not reached. He also said he believed an agreement remained possible. 

Meanwhile, the security situation for merchant shipping continues to deteriorate.

The Cape Dao attack follows two other incidents reported in the Strait on September 21. The Isle of Man-flagged crude tanker LR Stephanie was struck by an unidentified projectile, injuring two crew members, while the LPG tanker Al Maryah was hit by debris from unidentified projectiles while sailing outbound. Both vessels were able to continue without assistance.

The attacks come amid sharply reduced commercial traffic. Preliminary shipping data showed only two commodity vessels crossing Hormuz on Monday, compared with around 125 large commercial vessels per day before the conflict began February 28. The figures do not capture vessels operating with their AIS transponders switched off. 

The human toll has also continued to climb. International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned last week that merchant ships and civilian seafarers were increasingly being drawn into regional conflicts. At the time, the IMO had verified 80 attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, with at least 22 seafarers killed.

“We are reaching a point where these conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack merchant vessels and innocent seafarers,” Dominguez said.

Wednesday’s death aboard the Cape Dao adds another casualty even as diplomats in New York attempt to reopen negotiations over the conflict and the future of navigation through one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints.

Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights

Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update

— trusted by our 107,444 members