Two US Navy vessels -- a nuclear-powered submarine and an amphibious ship -- have collided in the Strait of Hormuz bordering Iran.

Navy officials say the incident took place in the early hours on Friday, when both ships were heading to port and were going in the same direction in the narrow strait.

Fifteen sailors on board the submarine, the USS Hartford were slightly injured, but able to return to duty. No injuries were reported on board the USS New Orleans- the amphibious ship.

The U.S. Navy says there was no damage to the nuclear propulsion unit of the submarine. But it noted that the amphibious ship suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in a diesel fuel spill.

(CCTV March 21, 2009)