An explosion rocked a Singapore-flagged oil tanker off the Saudi port cityof Jeddah Monday, the vessel’s owner said, in the latest apparent strike onenergy sector targets in the kingdom.

All 22 sailors aboard the tanker BW Rhine escaped unhurt after the blaststruck just after midnight, Singapore-based shipping company Hafnia said,but it did not exclude the possibility of an oil spill.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the alleged attack, but itcomes as Iran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen step upcross-border strikes against Saudi targets in retaliation for a five-yearmilitary campaign led by Riyadh.

“BW Rhine has been hit from an external source whilst discharging atJeddah… causing an explosion and subsequent fire onboard,” Hafnia said ina statement, without specifying what struck the vessel.

“The crew have extinguished the fire with assistance from the shore firebrigade and tug boats, and all 22 seafarers have been accounted for with noinjuries,” it added.

Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the blast off Jeddah, a keyRed Sea port and distribution centre for oil giant Saudi Aramco. -APP/AFP