A French-owned Malta-flagged container ship was struck during an attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, injuring its crew, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg confirmed on Wednesday.
In a video statement on Facebook, Borg said that the vessel, the CMA CGM San Antonio, is owned by French shipping group CMA CGM and was carrying a Philippine crew at the time of the attack.
The incident took place overnight in Omani waters, with Oman assisting injured crew members and providing them with medical treatment following their evacuation.
Authorities have not disclosed how many crew members were injured.
Borg said that Maltese authorities are in contact with the company responsible for the vessel, which entrusted Malta with its registration.
“Civilian maritime workers should never be targeted in conflict,” Borg said, while expressing solidarity with the affected seafarers.
He said that freedom of navigation remains essential for global trade, energy supply and economic stability.
Malta is now calling on all parties involved in the conflict to respect international law and prioritise dialogue and cooperation, Borg said.
Iran has refused to surrender control of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Guld of Oman, and one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global oil supply, amidst its tensions with the U.S.