The US Navy has reported that at 1.00am local time, one of their guided missile destroyers collided with an oil tanker near the Straits of Hormuz.
The Navy stated that the collision was not combat related and that neither ship has suffered any serious damage, beyond that no more details have been given.
The US has a number of ships based in the Persian Gulf with the aim of preventing Iran from taking any action to close the Straits of Hormuz. If this collision had been more serious, they could have closed the Straits through their own actions.
The USS Porter collided with the bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan, which was at 95% of its 2 million barrel capacity and on course from the port of Mesaieed in Qatar to Fujairah, the largest refueling port in the United Arab Emirates.
As of yet there have been "no reports of any spills or leakage," according to Lieutenant Greg Raelson of the US 5th fleet.
By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com
James Burgess studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham. He has worked in property development, chartered surveying, marketing, law, and accounts. He has also… More