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M/V Vela Nova
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M/V Vela Nova

Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel struck in the Gulf of Oman on 11 August 2026.

Last refreshed: 12 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

The US disabled a merchant ship with Hellfire missiles for evading a blockade; what happens to her crew now?

Timeline for M/V Vela Nova

#169 11 Aug

Two Hellfires into a merchant ship

Iran Conflict 2026
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Background

M/V Vela Nova is a Panama-flagged merchant vessel. On 11 August 2026 a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into her engine room in the Gulf of Oman, disabling her steering gear, after CENTCOM said the vessel ignored warnings and tried to evade the US blockade on Iranian ports. CENTCOM's statement did not address crew casualties. UKMTO's initial advisory, logged by the master before CENTCOM's account emerged, first classified the vessel as a tanker before the record was corrected to container ship. The strike is the latest addition to CENTCOM's running tally of vessels redirected, disabled or boarded since mid-July.

Common Questions
What happened to the M/V Vela Nova?
A US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the Panama-flagged Vela Nova's engine room in the Gulf of Oman on 11 August 2026, disabling her steering gear.Source: CENTCOM via Associated Press/Al Jazeera
Why did the US strike the Vela Nova?
CENTCOM said the vessel ignored warnings and tried to evade the US blockade on Iranian ports.Source: CENTCOM
Were there casualties on the Vela Nova?
CENTCOM's statement did not address crew casualties; it has not confirmed either injuries or their absence.Source: CENTCOM
Did UKMTO first report the Vela Nova as a tanker?
Yes. UKMTO's advisory 109-26 first classified the vessel as a tanker before the record was corrected to container ship.Source: UKMTO
Where was the M/V Vela Nova when she was struck?
Roughly 71 nautical miles off the Pakistani coast near Gwadar in the Gulf of Oman, according to PortNews; that distance does not appear in UKMTO's own advisory.Source: PortNews