A Norwegian chemical tanker was hit by an explosion caused by an unidentified device off the Omani coast early Tuesday, a crisis response company said.
MTI Network said in a statement that shipping company Stolt Tankers reported that at approximately 12.40am local time “its tanker vessel Stolt Magnesium while on passage in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman suffered from an explosion of an unidentified external device”.
The explosion triggered a fire in the ship’s engine room, but an MTI Network spokesman added that the crew “fortunately are all safe and accounted for”.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported that a tanker had reported “being hit by an unknown projectile on the starboard side engine room” 40 nautical miles northeast of Qalhat, Oman.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates said that Iran attacked two ships in the Strait of Hormuz with missiles, killing one crew member and wounding eight.