Tanker Catches Fire After Hitting Sea Mine East of Strait of Hormuz

LONDON/TEHRAN, Nov 11: A tanker caught fire after striking a sea mine in waters east of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Army Navy said on Wednesday, as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported an incident involving a tanker in the strategic waterway.

In an advisory designated 202-26 – Suspicious Activity, UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident involving a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

The maritime security agency said the condition of the crew, the extent of any damage and the possible environmental impact remained unknown at the time of its report.

UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution, remain alert to suspicious activity and report any incidents while authorities investigate.

Meanwhile, Iran's Army Navy said the tanker caught fire after striking a sea mine in an area east of the Strait of Hormuz, which it described as an "unsafe and restricted" maritime zone.

The navy's public relations office said Iranian forces were monitoring and controlling the eastern section of the strait and urged shipowners to coordinate with Iran's armed forces to ensure safe passage.

The UKMTO advisory did not specify the cause of the incident or confirm whether the tanker had struck a mine. It also did not identify the vessel or provide its location beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

The two reports appear to concern a potentially related incident, although an independent confirmation that they refer to the same tanker was not immediately available.

The latest report comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route through which a significant share of the world's oil supplies passes.