UKMTO Says Two Explosive Devices Caused Tanker Fire Near Oman; Crew Safe

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on October 30 that two explosive devices attached to a tanker caused an engine-room fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Its updated warning said the fire had been extinguished, the crew were safe and the vessel was continuing toward its next port of call. The incident occurred at 22:12 UTC on October 29, about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, as the tanker was transiting outbound through the strait. According to the verified report received by UKMTO, a small boat approached the tanker's port side and attached two devices to the hull above the waterline. Their explosions caused the fire and temporarily disabled the vessel. UKMTO said "the crew are safe" and reported no environmental impact. The updated notice, numbered 187-26 Update 001, classified the incident as an attack. It did not identify the tanker or those responsible for attaching the devices. The agency's initial warning had classified the incident as suspicious activity and said the cause of the fire, crew status, damage and environmental impact were not yet known. The later verified report supplied the account of the devices and the extinguished fire. UKMTO said authorities were investigating and advised vessels to transit cautiously and report suspicious activity.