Drone Strike Sparks Fire On US-Owned Gas Tanker At Egypt's Damietta Port

A suspected drone strike hit the US-owned floating gas storage tanker Energos Winter at Egypt's Damietta Port, sparking a fire that spread to another gas vessel, Gaslog Salem. All crew members were safely evacuated, and the fire was brought under control with no reported casualties. Authorities are investigating the incident, while no group has claimed responsibility. The attack has raised fresh concerns about the security of critical energy infrastructure in the region.

A drone strike has hit a US-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, triggering a fire that spread to a second gas vessel, according to maritime security officials and industry sources.
Maritime security firm Ambrey said its preliminary assessment indicated that a drone struck the floating storage tanker Energos Winter, causing a fire onboard.
Trading sources familiar with the incident said the blaze later spread to another gas carrier, Gaslog Salem, while the vessels were docked at the strategic Egyptian port.

FIRE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL

Port services company Inchcape confirmed that two gas tankers caught fire during the incident.
Ambrey said all crew members were safely evacuated and that emergency responders succeeded in bringing the fire under control before it could spread further.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Two security sources also told Reuters that preliminary investigations pointed to a drone strike as the likely cause of the explosion and subsequent fire.

NO GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Egyptian authorities have not publicly identified any suspected perpetrators.
Investigations are expected to determine the origin of the drone and whether the attack was specifically aimed at the vessels or the port's energy infrastructure.
The incident raises fresh concerns over the vulnerability of critical energy facilities to drone attacks amid heightened regional tensions.

DAMIETTA'S STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

Damietta Port is one of Egypt's most important energy export terminals, handling significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) destined for international markets.
The facility plays a key role in Egypt's energy sector and serves as an important export hub linking the Eastern Mediterranean with Europe and other global markets.
Any disruption to operations at the port could affect regional energy supply chains and shipping activities, although authorities have not indicated whether exports have been suspended.

GROWING THREAT TO
MARITIME ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

The attack comes amid increasing concerns over the use of drones against commercial shipping and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.
In recent years, several ports, oil terminals and commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Eastern Mediterranean have faced attacks linked to regional conflicts, prompting shipping companies and insurers to tighten security measures.
The latest incident is expected to renew attention on the security of vital maritime energy assets as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.