US warship collides with tanker near Strait of Hormuz

One of the US Navy's guided-missile destroyers suffered minor damage when it collided with an oil tanker early on Sunday just outside the Strait of Hormuz.

The collision left a gaping hole in the starboard side of USS Porter but no one was injured on either vessel, the US Navy said in a statement.

The collision with the Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker MV Otowasan occurred at approximately 1am local time.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, the Navy said, adding that there were no reports of spills or leakages from either the USS Porter or the Otowasan.

The USS Porter is on a scheduled deployment to the US 5th Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.

The Strait of Hormuz, located at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf, is where one-fifth of the world's oil is routed.

Tensions have risen there over Iran's threats to block tanker traffic in retaliation for tighter sanctions by the West.

Three years ago, The USS Hartford, a nuclear-powered submarine collided in the Strait with the USS New Orleans, an amphibious ship.

The New Orleans' fuel tank was ruptured and 15 sailors on the Hartford sustained minor injuries. The collision caused $2.3 million in damage to the New Orleans, and the cost so far of repairs to the Hartford is $102.6 million.

The commanding officer was relieved of his duties and the sub's chief of the boat, an adviser to the commanding officer, was reassigned. Several crew members were punished.