nautical mile

For another month, he and his crew will continue their search, covering more than 1,500 square nautical miles of uncharted ocean.

Portsmouth-based HMS Trent said its boarding team – comprising US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines and specialist sailors – climbed aboard the drugs vessel 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.

The shoal, claimed by China as Xianbin Jiao and as Escoda Shoal by the Philippines, is located some 75 nautical miles from the Philippines' west coast and 630 nautical miles from China.

It added that the crew was safe following the incidents, which happened 57 nautical miles south of the Yemeni city of Aden, and the vessel was proceeding to the next port of call.

Reports said the drone boats were an upgraded design of the Toofan, a drone boat with a 4,500-pound payload capable of reaching 45 nautical miles per hour.