A CMA CGM containership transits the South Red Sea under escort by a EUNAVFOR warship. Photo courtesy Operation ASPIDES<\/p>\n
CMA CGM Containership Confirmed Attacked in Hormuz, Crew Injured<\/p>\n
PARIS, May 6 (Reuters)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0A\u00a0CMA\u00a0CGM\u00a0container ship was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, injuring crew members and damaging the vessel, while another vessel run by the French group exited the Gulf, as the<\/p>\n
continued to disrupt shipping traffic.<\/p>\n
was hit on Tuesday, with injured seafarers evacuated for medical treatment,<\/p>\n
, the world\u2019s third-largest container shipping line, said on Wednesday, declining further comment.<\/p>\n
It marked the latest\u00a0attack on ships\u00a0since the\u00a0war\u00a0erupted, stranding hundreds of vessels and disrupting 20% of global oil trade.<\/p>\n
Washington launched an operation on Monday to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing\u00a0two<\/p>\n
However, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the effort would be<\/p>\n
amid talks aimed at a broader deal with Iran. Sources said on Wednesday the two sides were\u00a0close to an initial agreement\u00a0to end the conflict.<\/p>\n
Tehran, meanwhile, has\u00a0issued a map\u00a0of the waterway expanding a zone it said was subject to its control, its state media reported.<\/p>\n
INJURED CREW GETTING TREATMENT<\/p>\n
Eight crew members of the\u00a0San\u00a0Antonio\u00a0were wounded, the UN\u2019s International Maritime Organization said, in the 32nd such incident since the war began.<\/p>\n
France was not specifically targeted, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said, adding the crew were from the Philippines.<\/p>\n
A maritime security source said the ship was struck by an Iranian projectile while attempting a night transit near Oman.<\/p>\n
It was unclear if it was sailing under the now?paused\u00a0U.S. escort operation\u00a0to release stranded ships. The vessel had not shown a tracking location since early on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
TRANSITS WITHOUT COORDINATION WITH IRAN AT RISK<\/p>\n
Another\u00a0CMA\u00a0CGM\u00a0ship, the<\/p>\n
, was sailing along the coast of Oman south of the country\u2019s capital Muscat, after tracking as being inside the Gulf up to Tuesday, vessel data showed.<\/p>\n
CMA\u00a0CGM\u00a0confirmed the vessel had exited the Gulf, without commenting further.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile a few ships made it out safely while \u2018Project Freedom\u2019 was in place, it was clear that transits without coordination with Iran entailed significant risk,\u201d<\/p>\n
, chief safety and security officer with shipping association BIMCO.<\/p>\n
is the second\u00a0CMA\u00a0CGM\u00a0vessel, after\u00a0the<\/p>\n
a month ago, to have left the Gulf out of 14 vessels it indicated were stranded at the start of the war.<\/p>\n
Its destination was marked as Colombo, Sri Lanka, and like the<\/p>\n
was sailing under the Maltese flag.<\/p>\n