A tanker sailing in the Gulf of Oman was damaged by an explosion near the vessel’s waterline on Tuesday, maritime authorities said, as tensions remained high around the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
The blast occurred about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat and described it as an “external explosion”, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.
The crew and vessel are safe, although the master reports some bunker fuel has discharged into the sea, UKMTO said in a statement.
The incident comes at a time of heightened military activity in the region. Iran has been laying mines in nearby waters as part of efforts to disrupt movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route that handles nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Hours before the explosion, US forces carried out overnight strikes targeting missile facilities in Iran as well as boats allegedly involved in laying mines in Gulf waters.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway off southern Iran through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas passed before the conflict began with US-Israeli strikes in February.
