The Liberia-flagged dry bulk ship, Minoan Pioneer, was hit by an unknown projectile close to Oman's coast while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday with the crew abandoning the vessel and one seafarer missing, maritime security sources said.
"The projectile reportedly struck the engine room, while a fire broke out in the accommodation area. The crew are fighting the fire and require assistance, while the third engineer is reported missing," British maritime risk management group Vanguard said separately.
The vessel's Greece-based operator Modion Maritime Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A salvage operation had been initiated and a tugboat with firefighting equipment was on its way, one of the maritime security sources said, adding that most of the vessel's crew were in a lifeboat and were safe.
A liquefied natural gas tanker, which was struck off the coast of Oman on July 31, was the last ship to have been damaged in the area, according to data from the UN’s shipping agency.
Iran has halted most traffic through Hormuz while Washington maintains a blockade of Iranian shipping and ports, disrupting a corridor that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell)