RIYADH — A spokesman for the Border Guards, the agency responsible for guarding land and sea borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said it had learned that a breakage in the front of the Iranian tanker, Sabiti, in the Red Sea had caused an oil spill.

The Border Guards said on Saturday that it received an email from Jeddah Radio, which stated that the tanker's captain had sent the station a letter informing them that the front of the vessel has broken, resulting in an oil spill in the sea from the cargo and tanks of the vessel.

When the agency’s Coordination Center, in order to provide any necessary assistance, sought to get in touch with the tanker, the Border Guards noticed that the vessel had continued operating.

It continued to sail 67 nautical miles southwest of Jeddah Islamic Port and had shut down the automated tracking system, without responding to the Coordination Center's communications.

The Iranian tanker sailed to 79 nautical miles southwest of Jeddah's port and 64 nautical miles away from the nearest point of shore, at 9.7 knots (11.2 mph), according to the Border Guards, said the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“After analyzing the information by the Coordination Center with the aim to provide any necessary assistance... (the ship) shut off its tracking system without responding to the center’s calls,” the agency said.

Saudi Arabia said it was committed to the security and safety of navigation and international maritime laws.

The National Iranian Tanker Company, which owns the Sabiti, said its hull was hit by two separate explosions on Friday off the port of Jeddah. But the state-owned company denied reports the attack had originated from Saudi soil.

In early May another Iranian vessel, the "Happiness 1" broke down at about the same location off the port of Jeddah and was repaired in Saudi Arabia, where it was held until its release on July 21.

The latest incident comes after a spate of still unexplained attacks on shipping in and around the vital seaway to the Gulf involving Iran and Western powers, as well as drone attacks on Saudi oil installations. — Agencies