The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a maritime interdiction operation against the container ship MV Tuska on Sunday, April 19, the only one of the 35 ships that attempted to cross the U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman that refused to comply with orders to turn back.
General Dan Caine, President of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed this Friday that 34 ships had made the wise decision to turn back upon encountering the blockade, while the Tuska defied the warnings for six consecutive hours.
"Up until this morning, 34 ships have encountered the U.S. blockade and made the wise decision to turn back. One did not, and that ship was the motor vessel Tuska," Caine stated.
The Tuska is a large container ship: approximately 965 feet long—similar in size to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier—and over 100 feet wide.
The operation began around 4 a.m. Eastern time, when a U.S. Navy destroyer approached the Tuska, and both the crew and the vessel ignored the initial warnings.
During a six-hour period, the destroyer executed a series of pre-planned and carefully calibrated escalation options, including five warning shots, all of which were ignored by the crew.
All prior measures exhausted, CENTCOM authorized disabling fire against the Tuska. Before opening fire, the U.S. sailors warned the crew to abandon the engine room. At 9 a.m. Eastern Time, the destroyer fired nine inert rounds from the Mark 45 five-inch gun directly at the engine room, leaving the vessel without propulsion.
"It is not surprising that the ship then reported problems with its engine, became immobilized in the water, and began to comply with the instructions and orders from the U.S.," Caine noted.
At 4 p.m. Eastern Time, CENTCOM ordered the U.S. Marines to take control of the Tuska. Using helicopters and rappel ropes, the Marines boarded the immobilized vessel and took custody of the ship and its crew, who remain in U.S. custody.
The naval blockade was ordered by President Donald Trump on April 12 through a presidential proclamation, following the collapse of negotiations in Islamabad regarding the Iranian nuclear program, and took effect on April 13. It applies to vessels of any nationality transiting to or from Iranian ports or territories.
The operation is part of Operation Epic Fury, a joint offensive between the U.S. and Israel that began on February 28, 2026, and involves more than 12 warships, 100 aircraft, and 10,000 personnel from CENTCOM.
According to estimates, the blockade has caused losses of between 435 and 500 million dollars daily to Iran, whose economy depends 90% on maritime trade, and has driven the price of oil up to 104.24 dollars per barrel.
Filed under: