A container ship operated by French shipping giant CMA CGM was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, injuring crew members and damaging the vessel, as tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict continued to disrupt one of the world’s most important trade routes.
The vessel, San Antonio, was struck on Tuesday during passage through the strategic waterway, according to CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company. The group confirmed on Wednesday that injured crew members had been evacuated for medical treatment but declined to provide additional details about the incident.
The attack marks the latest in a series of maritime confrontations since the conflict erupted earlier this year, severely affecting shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries around 20% of global oil trade.
According to the International Maritime Organisation, eight crew members aboard the San Antonio were wounded, making it the 32nd reported maritime incident since the war began. French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said the vessel’s crew members were from the Philippines and noted that France itself had not been directly targeted.
A maritime security source said the ship was reportedly hit by an Iranian projectile while attempting a nighttime transit near Oman. It remains unclear whether the vessel was part of the temporary US naval escort programme launched earlier this week to guide stranded commercial ships safely through the Gulf.
The United States began the operation on Monday, allowing two US-flagged vessels to leave the Gulf. However, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the escort mission would be paused temporarily as negotiations with Iran appeared to move closer toward an initial agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
Sources familiar with the talks said both sides were nearing a preliminary framework deal, though no formal agreement has yet been announced.
Iran, meanwhile, has continued to assert control over parts of the Strait of Hormuz. State media reported that Tehran recently issued a revised maritime map expanding what it described as areas under Iranian authority.
Tracking data showed another CMA CGM vessel, the Saigon, successfully exited the Gulf and was sailing south of Muscat along Oman’s coast. The company later confirmed the ship had left the area safely. Its listed destination is Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Shipping analysts say the risks for commercial operators remain extremely high despite diplomatic progress. Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association BIMCO, said vessels attempting passage without coordination faced serious danger during the recent escalation.
CMA CGM had previously reported that 14 of its ships were stranded in the Gulf when hostilities intensified. The Saigon became only the second vessel from that group to leave the region safely.
