Gulf of Oman oil tanker crews rescued after 'attack'

The US Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said it was assisting two tankers in the Gulf of Oman after receiving distress calls from the vessels amid reports of an “attack".

Ship operators said 21 crew on board the Kokuka Courageous and 23 on the Front Altair had been evacuated.

"US naval forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12am local time and a second one at 7:00am," the fleet said in a statement.

"US Navy ships are in the area and are rendering assistance."

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations, part of the British navy, said an unspecified incident had taken place in the area and was investigating. It urged "extreme caution".

A statement BSM Ship Management, the Kokuka Courageous' management company, said 21 crew of the vessel abandoned ship after an incident on board which resulted in damage to the ship's hull starboard side.

The vessel is about 70 nautical miles from the United Arab Emirate of Fujairah and about 14 nautical miles from the coast of Iran.

"The Kokuka Courageous remains in the area and is not in any danger of sinking. The cargo of methanol is intact," the statement said.

One crew member was injured during the incident and was receiving medical treatment on another vessel nearby, it added.