U.S. destroyer hits Japanese tanker

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy destroyer in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz struck a Japanese oil tanker Sunday, military officials said.

In a brief statement from the Pentagon, the Navy said no one was injured when the USS Porter collided with the MV Otowasan north of the United Arab Emirates around 1 a.m., CNN reported.

Neither ship was in danger of sinking and the Navy said its guided-missile destroyer was "able to operate under its own power."

The statement said the collision was not combat-related and was being investigated.

The bulk oil container ship the destroyer hit carries a Panamanian flag, but is owned by a Japanese conglomerate.

The Porter is part of the U.S. 5th fleet and is on scheduled maritime security deployment, the Navy said.