U.S. Navy Helicopter Fires on Panama-Flagged Containership in Blockade Enforcement

U.S. Central Command has confirmed that American forces fired two Hellfire missiles at the Panama-flagged containership Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, disabling the vessel after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the U.S. blockade against Iran.

CENTCOM said a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter targeted the ship after its civilian crew continued sailing toward an Iranian port.

“Earlier today, CENTCOM forces disabled the steering gear of Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova as the cargo vessel attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman and violate the U.S. blockade against Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port,” CENTCOM said.

According to the command, the helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s engine room after the crew failed to comply with warnings from U.S. forces.

“The ship is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade, which remains in full effect,” CENTCOM said.

The confirmation clears up the circumstances surrounding an incident reported earlier Tuesday by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which initially said a containership had been struck by a missile while transiting westbound through the Gulf of Oman, approximately 71 nautical miles from Pakistan in international waters.

UKMTO said the vessel’s master confirmed the ship had been hit in the stern and steering compartment, leaving it not under command. A fire caused by the explosion was subsequently extinguished, with all crew accounted for and no injuries reported. Contemporary reporting identified the vessel as Vela Nova. 

AIS data reviewed by gCaptain showed Vela Nova sailing from India toward Jebel Ali before the incident.

The Vela Nova incident is particularly notable because it involved a containership rather than a tanker and occurred well outside the Strait of Hormuz itself, highlighting that U.S. enforcement of the blockade extends into the Gulf of Oman. Previously, U.S. forces have only stopped one containership, the Iranian-flagged Touska, as part of its blockade enforcement campaign.

The 1997-built Vela Nova is registered in Panama. Shipping database information shows Golden Valley Marine INV as its registered owner and commercial manager, with Sino Hellenic Ships Management serving as ISM manager. Korean Register is listed as its current classification society, while the vessel entered with the London P&I Club on July 8.

CENTCOM Says 55 Ships Redirected

Tuesday’s strike represents the latest U.S. military action against commercial shipping accused of attempting to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.

CENTCOM disclosed that, as of August 11, U.S. forces have redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled three non-compliant vessels and boarded two while enforcing the blockade.

“U.S. forces operating in the Middle East are highly vigilant, lethal, and ready,” the command said.

CENTCOM’s confirmation comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels amid the continuing U.S.-Iran conflict and stalled efforts to establish a mechanism for restoring shipping through the strategic waterway.

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