The vessel was “taken by unauthorised personnel whilst at anchor” 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) northeast of Fujairah, and “is now bound for Iranian territorial waters”, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre.

Several ships have been attacked in or near the key waterway as Iran and the United States push on with rival blockades.

Iran has largely blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — which normally carries one fifth of the world’s oil and LNG shipments — since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28.

The United States has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports despite a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8.

On Sunday, South Korea said a cargo ship had been struck by unidentified aircraft in Hormuz, while Qatar said a freighter arriving in the country’s waters from Abu Dhabi was hit by a drone.