UKMTO: Vessel suffers minor damage in attack off Khasab, Oman

An oil tanker navigating the waters off the coast of Oman was struck by an unknown projectile on Friday, according to the British Royal Navy's maritime monitoring agency.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) coordination centre reported that the security incident occurred approximately 19 nautical miles (about 35 kilometres) east of the Omani port city of Khasab, situated near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The impact caused minor structural damage to the vessel's port side, but did not disrupt its transit or result in casualties.

In an official advisory, the UKMTO stated:

"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 19NM east of Khasab, Oman. A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile causing minor structural damage to the port side. All crew are safe and accounted for, no environmental impact has been reported and the vessel is continuing to its next port of call. Authorities are investigating."

By Tamilla Hasanova