Drone strikes US-owned gas tanker at Egypt’s Damietta port, raising fears of widening Middle East conflict
A drone struck a US-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, sparking a fire that spread to a second vessel. No casualties were reported, but the incident has heightened concerns of such maritime attacks expanding beyond the Gulf.
A drone struck a US-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, sparking a fire that spread to a second vessel. No casualties were reported, but the incident has heightened concerns of such maritime attacks expanding beyond the Gulf. Fishing boats in Ezbet Al-Borg, the most famous place to sell fish in Egypt on July 2, 2024 in Damietta, Egypt. The fishing industry sustains the people of Ezbet Al-Borg, who rely on it as their primary source of income. (Photo by Ali Moustafa/Getty Images)New Delhi:A drone struck a US-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday, triggering a fire that spread to a second gas vessel. According to British maritime security firm Ambrey, the drone hit the Energos Winter, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) owned by US-based Energos Infrastructure. Trading sources said the blaze later spread to the nearby Gaslog Salem, another gas carrier docked at the port. Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum confirmed that a fire had broken out at Damietta port but did not identify the cause or mention a drone strike. The ministry said emergency response teams quickly contained the blaze and that there were no injuries or fatalities. Port authorities also indicated that operations at unaffected berths were expected to resume. No claim of responsibilityThere was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, maritime security firms Ambrey and Vanguard assessed that a drone strike was the most likely cause of the explosion. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions following recent military exchanges involving Iran, the United States and its allies. The Energos Winter has a storage capacity of about 138,250 cubic metres and serves as a floating storage and regasification unit that converts liquefied natural gas back into gaseous form for distribution. It is technically and commercially managed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management. Maritime security concerns growThe strike marks one of the most significant attacks on energy infrastructure in the Mediterranean during the current regional crisis and is likely to intensify concerns over the security of shipping routes and LNG facilities beyond the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Analysts say the attack could signal an expansion of the conflict to strategically important energy assets serving international markets. The Damietta terminal is one of Egypt’s key liquefied natural gas export facilities, handling gas shipments to international markets. While authorities reported no casualties and contained the fire, the incident is expected to prompt heightened security measures at ports and offshore energy installations across the region. Akshit JoshiAkshit has been working at news9live for nearly 4 years now. Much of his work output has revolved around global politics and climate change, but he has written explainers, analysis and opinion pieces on a diverse range of topics. He has also been associated with a variety of different projects in his time at News9; be it covering events, flagship programs or marketing outreaches. Read MoreLatest Stories