Iraq has confirmed an unexploded limpet mine has been found on a tanker in the Middle East Gulf.

Crew aboard the 150,000-dwt Pola (built 2011) discovered a "suspicious object" on its hull on 27 December, later confirmed to be an explosive device, maritime security consultancy Dryad Global said last week.

The mine was discovered while the Pola was conducting a ship-to-ship transfer about 11km (6 nautical miles) south of Iraq's Al Basrah Oil Terminal.