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A vessel caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, forcing its crew to abandon ship before being rescued by a tugboat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The vessel remained adrift with the fire still burning, UKMTO said in an update. No environmental impact had been reported.
“The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile. The crew safely abandoned the vessel and have been recovered by a tug boat,” the agency said. “The fire has not been extinguished and the vessel is currently adrift.”
UKMTO initially reported that the vessel was on fire about 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, in Oman’s northernmost province.
The agency said information about the incident came from a verified source, but the cause of the fire had not initially been confirmed.
Authorities were investigating the incident, while vessels operating in the area were advised to transit with caution.
UKMTO did not identify the vessel or provide information about its cargo, flag or destination.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz had “exploded and were brought to a halt.”
The IRGC statement did not provide further details linking the tankers to the incident reported by UKMTO.
The incident occurred as the United States and Iran competed for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas previously passed.
Iran blockaded the strait during the war.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, Tehran is required to work with Oman on the waterway’s future administration. Iran has said the administration of the strait will never return to its previous form.
In recent weeks, Iran has targeted tankers traveling along a route close to Oman’s coast to cross the strait, seeking to push vessels toward Iranian waters and require payments for safe passage.
Regional tensions have escalated since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February.
Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Gulf countries that host U.S. assets.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan last month to end their conflict and pursue a lasting peace agreement.
Tensions rose again last week over the Strait of Hormuz, with the two countries exchanging attacks.
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