Merchant sailor killed in suspected missile blast on oil tanker in Arabian gulf

• The blast is believed to have been caused by a missile strike
• Crew members brought a resulting fire under control without additional injuries, and no marine pollution was detected

A merchant sailor was killed following an explosion believed to have been triggered by a missile strike on an oil products tanker transiting the Arabian Gulf, the vessel’s operating firm said Friday.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire was sailing unladen toward Bahrain on Thursday when the blast occurred, according to a statement issued by Athens-based management company Velos Tankers.

"The company is greatly saddened to report the death of one of its seafarers, who was found fatally injured on board after having initially been reported missing in the aftermath of the explosion," the company stated.

No other crew members sustained injuries during the incident. Shipboard personnel managed to extinguish a blaze ignited by the blast, and company officials confirmed that no cargo spillage or marine environmental pollution occurred.

Following the strike, the tanker was escorted to Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain. An official maritime and security investigation has been launched to determine the precise origins and ordnance used in the attack, while marine engineers continue to inspect the extent of the damage sustained by the vessel's hull.