Tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz, UK maritime agency says

LONDON -- A tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile on Saturday, causing damage to the vessel's bridge, while all crew members remain safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

According to a UKMTO warning issued on Saturday, the incident was reported by the vessel's master at around 0800 UTC.

"The vessel sustained damage to their bridge; all crew are reported safe. No environmental damage reported at present," the warning said.

The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is a vital artery for global energy supplies, with about one-fifth of the world's oil consumption passing through it.

Shipping through the strait had gradually resumed after the United States and Iran recently reached a memorandum of understanding. But regional tensions resurfaced on Thursday.

The US Central Command said on Friday that US forces had struck Iranian targets in response to an attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.