A Liberian-flagged container ship owned by Greek interests came under fire from a Revolutionary Guards gunboat near Oman on Tuesday, in the latest sign that tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to spill into commercial shipping as a US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place.

The vessel, Epaminondas (IMO 9153862), was about 15 nautical miles off Oman when the incident occurred, according to maritime security reports.

The ship is linked to Technomar, the Greek-owned company of George Giouroukou, and was sailing from Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates to Mundra in India when it was attacked.

According to the reports, a Revolutionary Guards gunboat approached the vessel without prior radio contact and then opened fire, causing minor damage to the bridge.

No injuries, fire or pollution were reported, while all 21 crew members were safe.

The incident came at a time when maritime security in the wider region remains highly fragile, with tensions around Hormuz continuing to weigh on commercial traffic.

At the same time, pressure on Iran’s oil exports appears uneven.

Two Iranian tankers, the Hero II and Hedy, were reported to have exited the Gulf this week despite the blockade, while data cited by market sources showed that at least 34 Iranian-linked ships had crossed the blockade zone, with 19 heading out of the Persian Gulf.

That, in turn, has raised further questions over how effective the blockade can be in practice, particularly as some vessels disable tracking systems or move close to the Iranian coast to avoid detection.

The wider picture for commercial shipping remains one of severe disruption. Around 800 ships are still stranded in the Persian Gulf, while the blockade remains in force, keeping pressure on one of the world’s most critical energy arteries.