GWADAR: Maritime security sources reported a suspected Vela Nova missile strike 71 nautical miles off Pakistan on Tuesday. UKMTO confirmed only an incident involving a container ship and military forces.
The ship’s master reported the incident on August 11. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations advisory placed it south of Gwadar, Balochistan, in the Gulf of Oman.
British maritime risk group Vanguard and another security source gave separate preliminary assessments to Reuters. They said a missile may have struck the Panama-flagged Vela Nova while it sailed off Pakistan.
However, neither source identified the military force allegedly involved. UKMTO also did not name the vessel or describe the nature of the encounter.
UKMTO initially classified the vessel as a tanker. Advisory 109-26 was later amended to identify it as a container ship.
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The advisory provided no information about casualties or damage. Authorities began investigating and urged nearby vessels to monitor maritime security updates and remain alert.
