Muscat – The Environment Authority (EA) said on Saturday that it has raised its level of preparedness and was continuing to monitor maritime navigation safety and possible environmental risks in regional waters.

The authority said that it was coordinating with relevant government agencies to assess any potential environmental impact linked to navigation safety developments in regional waters.

Monitoring measures include field inspections, analysis of data and satellite imagery, and the use of technical surveillance tools. Precautionary steps have also been completed under national environmental emergency response plans.

The EA said no indicators had so far been detected that would require an escalation in the environmental response level. Monitoring and assessment would continue, with developments announced through official channels.

The statement followed reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) of two incidents off northern Oman.

In the first, a tanker reported an explosion and a large splash nearby, about 21 nautical miles northeast of Khasab. No damage was reported, and authorities were investigating.

In a separate incident, a tanker was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile 11 nautical miles northeast of Lima, damaging its engine room and leaving it unable to manoeuvre.

UKMTO said regional coastguard authorities had been notified. No casualties or environmental damage were reported.

Ships in the area were advised to proceed with caution and report suspicious activity.

The EA urged the public to rely on official sources and avoid circulating unverified information.