A vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile ​about 14 nautical miles northwest of the UAE emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah on Wednesday, causing a fire in its engine room, British maritime agencies said in reports published on Thursday.

All 22 ‌crew members ‌on Liberia-flagged oil ​tanker, ‌including 19 ⁠Indian ​nationals, were ⁠safely evacuated, India’s shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said.

The MT DOMINICA PROSPERITY was attacked while drifting off the port of Mina Saqr, Shipping Minister, Sonowal added in ⁠a post on X.

Firefighting efforts ‌were under ‌way at the time ​of the report, the ‌United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations ‌agency said.

Maritime security firm Ambrey said the vessel was struck at the stern while leaving the Strait of Hormuz.

The ‌tanker is owned by South Korea’s Haut Brion 56 ⁠Ltd. ⁠and operated by Sinokor Maritime Co. Ltd, Athens-based maritime security firm MARISKS said.

Attacks on shipping in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz have increased in recent weeks. The strategic waterway carried nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil before the US-Israel ​conflict with ​Iran.