Oil tanker MKD Vyom issues mayday near Hormuz

An oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz called for assistance early March 1 due to "fire/ explosion and subsequent flooding," according to a mayday alert seen by Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, and verified by the Norwegian Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Stavanger.

The JRCC relayed the mayday for the MKD Vyom at 8:39 GMT.

The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel is voyaging to the port of Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, according to data from S&P Global's Commodities at Sea.

The vessel's operator, Infinity Ships FZE, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The mayday comes after Iran claimed to have shut Hormuz Feb. 28 in response to US and Israeli missile strikes.

Some 20% of the world's daily oil trade passes through the Strait, just off the coast of Iran.