A tanker transiting outbound through the strait of Hormuz was attacked 25 nautical miles (46 km) northeast of Khasab, Oman, in the late hours of 29 October, according to security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO said it received a verified report that the vessel was approached on its port side by a small boat, which attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline. The devices subsequently detonated, resulting in a fire in the engine room that temporarily disabled the vessel.
All crew members were safe and that there was no environmental impact, UKMTO said. The fire has since been extinguished, and the tanker is continuing to its next port of call.
Authorities are investigating the attack. UKMTO advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity.
The latest incident follows a series of maritime security events in and around the strait of Hormuz. UKMTO reported a fire on an unidentified vessel off Khasab earlier on 29 October, while a tanker was attacked while transiting the strait on 23 October. Another vessel fire was reported near Iraq's Al-Faw on 26 October.
Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on 29 October claimed that three oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the strait of Hormuz, although the claims have not been independently verified.
The threat level in the strait of Hormuz remains "severe", according to a 29 October advisory issued by the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC).
