KHASAB, Oman — A small boat came up on the port side of an outbound tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in an updated warning.
The blasts started a fire in the engine room that temporarily disabled the vessel, according to the verified report in the update. The incident took place 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, on Oct. 29 at 2212 UTC.
The fire has since been put out. UKMTO said the crew is safe, there has been no environmental impact, and the tanker is continuing to its next port of call.
UKMTO advised other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to the center while authorities investigate.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy separately said a tanker east of the strait caught fire after hitting a naval mine. It did not name the vessel.
That leaves it unclear whether the Guard was describing the same tanker. UKMTO’s account points to explosives attached to the hull, not a mine strike.
The method also sets this attack apart. Attacks in recent weeks have involved drones, missiles and small arms, not devices fixed directly to a ship’s hull.
Also Read: Iran Guards Say Three Tankers Hit Mines in Hormuz
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