London, Oct. 27 (Reuters): Coalition naval forces in the Gulf have been deployed to counter a possible threat to Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura terminal, the world’s biggest offshore oil facility, the UK’s Royal Navy said today.

Oil prices initially rose about 30 cents to around $61 as traders recalled a foiled attack in February on Saudi Arabia’s huge Abqaiq facility, the world’s biggest oil processing plant.

Crude oil shipments were continuing as normal from the kingdom’s main east coast terminal, industry sources said and added the deployment was routine.

The British navy issued a warning to merchant shipping as a precautionary measure after receiving intelligence of a possible threat. It said coalition forces had been dispatched in support of Bahraini and Saudi units.