Explosion reported on tanker off Aden, UK maritime authority says

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations agency said an explosion was reported on a tanker about 95 nautical miles off Aden, on Yemen's southeastern coast. According to the agency, a ship captain reported hearing a loud explosion in very close proximity to his own tanker in the same area. The agency said a preliminary inquiry has been launched to determine whether the tanker involved was near another vessel at the time of the blast. It added that it is continuing to gather detailed information about the incident. The explosion comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where commercial vessels have continued to sail along risky routes often escorted by warships. The agency has issued warnings to transiting ships in the area over international maritime traffic safety. The Gulf of Aden is one of the major transit corridors for global oil trade.