Explosion Damages Tanker Off Oman Near Strait of Hormuz

An explosion struck the hull of a tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, according to an alert issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The master of the vessel reported the blast occurred on the port side near the waterline about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat. The crew and ship stayed safe, though some bunker fuel entered the water.

UKMTO described the event as an external explosion without specifying the cause. The alert followed the report received earlier the same day. The location places the incident in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic has continued amid regional tensions.

The explosion occurred hours after reported U.S. strikes on Iran, according to South China Morning Post coverage. Iran has placed mines in nearby waters as part of efforts to restrict passage through the strait. No injuries or major damage beyond the fuel discharge were reported by the vessel's operators.