A ship carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) issued many distress signals after being attacked in the Gulf of Oman, according to recordings from the VHF maritime radio channel near the Strait of Hormuz reported by Xinhua on July 7.
The audio recordings, provided to Xinhua by a crew member on a nearby merchant ship, recorded radio signals from the attacked ship, in which it was reported that the ship was hit on the port side by a drone.
Sailors on board said a fire broke out in the engine room, creating thick smoke, while the crew could not fully assess the extent of the damage. The ship requested support from coastal radio stations and nearby naval forces.
The crew also reported that all personnel on board were safe and had gathered on the starboard side.
The ship identified itself via radio as AL REKAYYAT, an LNG tanker operating in the Gulf of Oman.
Due to the highly flammable nature of LNG goods, any attack targeting this type of ship could pose serious safety risks, the sailor who provided the recordings said.
