Americans shot up a container ship in the Oman Gulf. Vela Nova was to sail to Iran

A U.S. military helicopter fired on a Panamanian container ship. Vela NovaAccording to the U.S. Central Command, he attempted to cross the American blockade of Iranian ports. Two Hellfire missiles damaged the ship's steering device, which resulted in a loss of steering capability and could not continue the cruise towards Iran.

The incident occurred on August 11 on Oman Gulf, about 71 nautical miles off the Pakistan coast. US Central Command reported that Vela Nova It sailed towards one of the Iranian ports, and its crew did not comply with the subsequent calls for US forces to stop the ship. Two AGM-111 Hellfire missiles from the helicopter were used in combat. MH-60 U.S. Navy that damaged the container ship's steering device.

The Americans have disabled Vela Nova

First reports said he hit the helm. container ship. Later, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), dealing with the safety of navigation in the Middle East, stated that the captain Vela Nova confirmed a hit to the stern of the ship, in the steering gear compartment area. Container ship lost steering capability.

The explosion caused a fire that the crew managed to extinguish. There were 17 people on board the ship and according to available information, none of them were injured. All crew members were found, and after the container ship was disabled, preparations were made for their transfer to another ship.

Vela Nova is a container ship with IMO number 9136228, carrying capacity of about 13,2 000 tonnes and capacity of about 1050 TEU. The ship was built in 1996 and flies the flag of Panama. AIS data previously indicated that it was sailing from India towards Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates. However, the American side claims that the ship intended to enter one of the Iranian ports.

Another ship fired on the U.S. blockade.

Fire Vela Nova is another case force use by the United States to a ship which, according to Washington, tried to reach Iran despite the current blockade of its ports. Reuters, citing CENTCOM data, reported that it was the twelfth ship shelled by American forces since the blockade began in April and the third since its reintroduced on 14 July.

By CENTCOM By 11 August 55 merchant ships were returned, three were immobilized, and two US teams entered for inspection. Depending on the situation, the Americans stop at calling for a change of course, carry out control activities or use weapons.

The relevance of the incident Vela Nova is also due to the location of the fire. The container ship was hit in the international waters of the Gulf of Oman, about 71 nautical miles from the Pakistan coast, so far from Iranian ports and the Strait of Ormuz itself. American action therefore includes not only direct approaches to Iran but also routes towards the Gulf.

The situation in the Ormuz Strait already has a clear impact on shipping. According to Reuters, on August 10, over six ships passed through the Strait, while on average around 130–140 units per day used it before the war began.

What has been happening for several months shows increasingly that American engagement in conflict Israel with Iran does not approximate the return of normal shipping through this route. Further cases of detention, diversion and shelling of ships, including Vela Nova, they show that the war continues to directly hit maritime transport and its effects are felt almost worldwide. As long as the United States engages in this conflict, it is difficult to expect a lasting calming situation in the Gulf of Oman and in the Strait of Ormuz.