“A cargo vessel has broadcasted on VHF 16 that they have been hit by an unknown projectile,” UKMTO said in an alert.  The incident took place 20 nm northeast of Al Khasab, Oman at 22:00 hrs UTC on 3 August and the UKMTO said that the authorities were investigating.      According to maritime security firm Vanguard Tech the vessel involved was the bulker Minoan Pioneer and that a distress call was received by the Panama-flagged tanker Surianame Prosperity. The bulker suffered a complete blackout after the projectile struck the engine room, and a fire broke out in the accommodation area. The crew were said to be fighting the fire and requiring assistance, with the third engineer reported missing.   The latest attack follows two near misses on tankers on 2 August when the VLCC Egypt Prosperity and Aframax On Pride emerged unscathed from separate incidents involving explosions and reported warning shots. In both cases the vessels were attacked in Oman waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

The series of incidents come as US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were underway and that it was Tehran’s “last chance” to end the conflict. Iran meanwhile has denied talks with the US are taking place and that it is instead negotiating with Oman over a temporary route for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile Iranian media are reporting that the country’s military forces have hit a US military base in Northern Kuwait with video of buildings in flames circulating on social media.