UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said an oil tanker reported hearing an
explosion about 20 nm northeast of Seeb in the Sea of Oman, near the eastern
entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO received the captain’s report at 20:37
UTC on March 2 (04:37 Beijing March 3). The vessel and crew are reported safe;
the captain said the blast occurred close to the ship. Authorities are
investigating and UKMTO advised transiting vessels to exercise caution.
