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The Persian Gulf once again seems to be becoming the center of global tension. The attack on a cargo ship off the coast of Qatar in the Persian Gulf on Sunday has raised new concerns about international maritime security. The ship caught fire after the attack, however the fire was brought under control in time and no casualties were reported. This incident has pointed to the growing threat in the area, where incidents of targeting of ships have been coming to light continuously for the last few days.

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UKMTO gave information about the attack

Britain's maritime security agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the ship was targeted by an unknown weapon or projectile. The attack took place about 43 kilometers north-east of Qatar's capital Doha. According to the agency, a small fire broke out on the ship as soon as the attack took place. However, crews quickly gained control of the situation and the fire was extinguished. Initial investigation has not revealed any injuries to any crew member.

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Tension did not stop even after ceasefire

Despite the increased tension and ceasefire between America and Iran in recent times, the situation in the region has not returned to normal. There remains a constant threat to the sea lanes of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Experts believe that this attack could be part of the same growing geopolitical tension, which has challenged the security of international merchant ships. The US crackdown on Iranian oil tankers and subsequent warnings from Iran have increased instability across the region.

Impact of Iran-America tension on sea routes

A few days ago, America had taken action against two Iranian oil tankers. The US administration claimed that these ships were trying to break the sanctions and blockade. After this, Iran's Revolutionary Guard reacted strongly and warned that if its merchant ships or oil tankers were targeted, retaliatory action would be taken. Since then, the risk to the safety of ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is continuously increasing.

Indian ship also caught fire

The effect of this tension has also been seen on Indian ships. On 8 April, an Indian wooden ship caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz. There were 18 Indian crew members present on that ship. One Indian sailor was killed in the accident, while four others sustained burn injuries. The injured were taken to Dubai for treatment. However, the reason behind that incident is not clear yet.

Chinese oil tanker was also targeted

Recently, Marshall Islands-flagged Chinese oil tanker “JV Innovative” was also attacked. There was chaos among the crew after the fire broke out on the ship. The chief engineer of the ship had said that it is not yet clear who carried out the attack. There were 22 crew members from China, Myanmar and Indonesia on that ship. After the incident, many countries had expressed concern about the security of international sea routes.

Global trade may be affected

The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are among the world's most important maritime trade routes. From here, a large amount of crude oil and other goods reach many countries of the world every day. In such a situation, increasing attacks can also affect the global supply chain and oil market. Maritime security experts say that if the situation does not improve soon, the movement of international merchant ships could be seriously affected.