An Indian seafarer remains missing following an attack on the Cyprus-flagged container vessel GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz, while the remaining 23 crew members were rescued and transferred safely to Oman, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanoli told CNA.
She said the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile on July 11 at 01:40 Cyprus time while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining extensive damage, mainly to the engine room.
Hadjimanoli said the crew consisted of 24 seafarers of various nationalities, specifically from India, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines, noting that there were no Cypriot nationals among the crew members.
The missing seafarer is an Indian national who was serving as the ship’s third engineer, according to information provided by the managing company, Hadjimanoli said.
She added that after the strike, the 23 seafarers abandoned ship using the lifeboat and were subsequently picked up by the Omani Navy, which transferred them safely to land.
She also noted that the GFS Galaxy is being towed to the port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, while Omani authorities continue search and rescue operations in the area with the aim of locating the missing seafarer.
Hadjimanoli said the Deputy Ministry of Shipping is in continuous contact with the vessel’s managing company, taking all necessary action and closely monitoring developments.
She underlined that transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains particularly difficult for all vessels, regardless of flag, especially given the recent military operations in the region.
The Deputy Minister also noted that Cyprus has one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, with a large number of vessels operating internationally under the Cyprus flag, regardless of the shipowning company’s base or the nationality of their crews.
She said the Deputy Ministry of Shipping had already issued a relevant circular to the shipping industry on February 28, 2026, the day hostilities began in the region, aimed at informing the industry and encouraging preventive safety measures.
According to figures cited by Hadjimanoli, 23 Cyprus-flagged vessels are currently within the Persian (Arabian) Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, ahead of the Strait of Hormuz, making continuous monitoring of the situation by the Cypriot authorities necessary.
(information from CNA)