16 July 2012 Last updated at 13:11 ET

US Navy ship 'fires on boat in Gulf'

A US ship has fired on a boat off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, US officials say.

The USNS Rappahannock fired on a vessel after it ignored warnings and rapidly approached the ship, a US Navy official said.

There is no confirmation of casualties although AP news agency reported one person had been killed and three hurt.

Tensions in the Gulf region are high after Iran recently renewed threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Lt Greg Raelson of the US Navy in Bahrain said that a security team on board the ship fired on a small motor boat after it disregarded warnings and "rapidly approached" the US ship off the coast of Jebel Ali, near Dubai, UAE.

"In accordance with navy force protection procedures, the sailors... used a series of non-lethal, preplanned responses to warn the vessel before resorting to lethal force," he said.

"The US crew repeatedly attempted to warn the vessel's operators to turn away from their deliberate approach. When those efforts failed to deter the approaching vessel, the security team on the Rappahannock fired rounds from a .50-calibre machine gun."

He said the incident was being investigated.

It is not clear where the crew of the boat are from.

The US Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain.

AP news agency reported that UAE officials and police were crowded around the white-hulled boat, which after the incident was docked in a small Dubai port used by fishermen.

The boat appeared to be a civilian vessel about 30ft (9m) long and powered by three outboard motors, the report said.