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Singapore Maritime and Port Authority Condemns Attack on Container Ship in Strait of Hormuz

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on Friday said the attack on a Singapore-registered container ship on Thursday when transiting the Strait of Hormuz was unjustifiable and a breach of international law.

The vessel Ever Lovely suffered minor damage to its bridge area from an unknown projectile when exiting the Hormuz Strait. However, it has since exited the crucial waterway and is continuing its voyage, with all 21 crew members safe, the MPA said in a statement.

"MPA is deeply concerned about the incident, which was unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law. All actions affecting international shipping must fully comply with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and not endanger the safety of seafarers and ships at sea," the statement added.

No Singaporeans were on board the vessel, the statement added.

The International Maritime Organization suspended its evacuation operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz following the attack on the commercial vessel, citing the need to reassess safety conditions amid rising regional risks.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the suspension was prompted by the need to "reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place" for both vessels on the evacuation list and others operating in the region.

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