Shrapnel hits Hapag-Lloyd container ship in Hormuz Strait

A German container ship has been struck by shrapnel while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, Hapag-Lloyd confirmed.

The incident involved the vessel Source Blessing, which was hit by debris from nearby explosions. Company officials said it was not a direct strike, but the impact caused a fire on board. The fire has since been extinguished, and all crew members are safe, Caliber.Az reports per Al Jazeera.

Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, operates hundreds of vessels along major global trade routes. The company had previously announced a temporary suspension of all shipments to and from Gulf countries “until further notice” due to the escalation of the Israel–US conflict in the region.

Rival shipping company Maersk has implemented a similar suspension, highlighting the growing disruption to maritime trade in the area.

By Khagan Isayev