Container vessel hit by Iranian missile forcing crew to abandon ship

The crew of the Safeen Prestige was forced to abandon ship (Picture: AP)

A Maltese-flagged container ship has been struck by a projectile while travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

The crew of Safeen Prestige was forced to abandon ship, shipping sources said, after being hit about two nautical miles north of Oman.

British maritime risk management ​company Vanguard ​said: ‘The vessel ​was struck by ‌an unknown projectile just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room.