The crew of a container ship abandoned the vessel after a fire broke out in the latest incident in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said early Sunday.

The crew members had moved to a rescue ship, UKMTO said, citing a ship security officer and military authorities.

UKMTO had previously reported that the ship was damaged east of Oman.

Earlier, the U.S. military said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz.

One civilian crew member is missing, according to the U.S. military.

The 300-metre-long ship is unable to continue its voyage because of a fire on board and significant damage to the engine room, the U.S. military said.

The IRGC had previously said they fired warning shots at a ship in the strait.

The ship had endangered maritime security in the strait, the Guards said via their Sepah News Telegram channel.

The Guards said several ships had tried to take an unapproved route and ignored calls to correct course.

As a result of the incident, the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until further notice, and until the end of U.S. interventions in the region, the statement said. 

(dpa/NAN)