They begun to restrict and banned ocean-going voyages, thus missing out on an important opportunity for development.

参考译文：他们开始限制并取缔/禁止了远洋航行/航海，结果错过发展的重要机会。

这里的missing为什么要用分词形式呢？

解答如下：

以上属于现在分词作结果状语，这里thus起强调语气作用

表示结果。现在分词作结果状语表示自然的结果。充当结果状语的现在分词的逻辑主语有时并不是句子的主语，而是句子的内容或部分内容。

（备注：现在分词作结果状语，表示一种必然的意料之中的结果）

A lot of good land has gone with them, leaving only sand.

许多好地也随之消失了，留下来的只是沙漠。

The child slipped and fell, hitting his head against the door.

那孩子滑了一跤，头撞到了门上。

A hurricane hit this area last night, blowing down a lot of trees.

European football is played in 80 countries, making it the most popular sport in the world.

欧式足球在80个国家盛行，是世界上最流行的运动。

The mother died, leaving a lot of money for her children.

母亲去世了，给她的孩子留下了一大笔钱

Their car was caught in a traffic jam, thus causing the delay.

= Their car was caught in a traffic jam, thus it caused the delay.

他们的车遇上交通阻塞，因而耽误了。

It rained heavily, causing severe flooding。

大暴雨造成了严重的水涝。