Oil tanker hit by missile off Yemen: security firm

AFP | Dubai

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A crude oil tanker was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen's southwestern city of Mokha overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, maritime security firm Ambrey said yesterday.

"A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker was reportedly 'attacked'" about 10 nautical miles southwest of Mokha, Ambrey said, adding that information "indicated the vessel was hit by a missile and that there was a fire" in the ship's rear.

The firm later said it had "received information that indicated that the tanker had received assistance. One of the steering units of the vessel was reportedly functional."

The British navy's maritime security agency said earlier it had received a report of a vessel "sustaining slight damage after being struck by an unknown object".

"The vessel and crew are safe and continuing to its next port of call," United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) added. It said the incident occurred 98 nautical miles (180 kilometres) south of Yemen's Hodeidah, without specifying the type of vessel involved.