A Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker in the Persian Gulf collided with a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer early Sunday morning.
Navy officials say no one was hurt Sunday when the Navy’s guided missile destroyer, the USS Porter, and a large Japanese owned merchant vessel collided near the Strait of Hormuz at the opening of the Persian Gulf near Iran.
The collision between USS Porter (DDG 78) and the Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker, Otowasan, occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time, a Navy statement said.
The USS Porter was able to travel without assistance to Jebel Ali, UAE, and is now pierside for assessment and repair.
The incident is currently under investigation and a cause for the collision is yet to be determined. There were also no reports of any spills or leakages from either vessel.
USS Porter is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.
