An explosion hit a Greek oil tanker carrying about a million barrels of crude off the coast of Libya, paralyzing the ship's operations but without casualties or environmental damage, AFP reported.

The explosion occurred Friday in the engine room of the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura, about 165 kilometers off the Libyan coast, TMS Tankers said.

“There are no casualties or environmental pollution,” the statement said.

The engine room was flooded, causing the vessel to be paralyzed, according to the statement.

It will be towed to Greece on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The cause of the explosion was not reported. The ship had left the Libyan port of Zeitina and was heading across the Mediterranean to the British territory of Gibraltar.