Tanker Catches Fire Off Oman's Khasab; Crew Evacuated

MUSCAT, Nov 8 : A tanker caught fire approximately eight nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of its crew, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

In an incident alert numbered 199-26, UKMTO said it had received a delayed report of the incident, which occurred at approximately 1920 UTC (10:20 pm Kuwait time) on November 7.

Military authorities reported that the tanker was on fire and that its crew had been evacuated.

UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to the organisation as authorities investigate the incident.

The alert did not provide details about the cause of the fire, the identity of the vessel, the number of crew members evacuated or whether there were any casualties.

The incident occurred off Oman's northern coast, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route for oil and other commodities.