Early on the 7th (local time), an LNG carrier in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz sent multiple distress calls after reporting a drone strike to its port side, a radio recording provided by a merchant seafarer shows. The vessel reported an engine-room fire and heavy smoke, said it could not further assess hull damage, and that all crew were safe and mustered on the starboard side. The ship requested assistance from nearby coastal radio stations and naval forces. The seafarer said the s

Early on the 7th (local time), an LNG carrier in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz sent multiple distress calls after reporting a drone strike to its port side, a radio recording provided by a merchant seafarer shows. The vessel reported an engine-room fire and heavy smoke, said it could not further assess hull damage, and that all crew were safe and mustered on the starboard side. The ship requested assistance from nearby coastal radio stations and naval forces. The seafarer said the ship identification in the calls indicates it is carrying liquefied natural gas; such vessels carry flammable cargo and face elevated safety risk when attacked.