The blast hit MT Agrari, a Maltese-flagged, Greek-managed oil tanker near Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, early Wednesday.
“Their vessel was attacked by an unknown source. The Agrari was struck about 1 meter above the waterline and has suffered a breach. It has been confirmed that the crew are safe and there have been no injuries," Agrari’s operators stated.
The ship was still floating off the coast and Saudi officials had boarded it the company said. Saudi Arabia did not recognize the incident immediately.
The blast was confirmed by Ambrey, a British security company, and attributed to a mine. It was said that the Agrari had discharged cargo from Rotterdam, Netherlands, into the Shuqaiq Steam Power Plant.
The explosion comes after an oil facility in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, was hit by a cruise missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Maritime Business World