Oil Tanker Off Dubai Hit by Drone; Fire Extinguished, Crew Safe
Oil Tanker Off Dubai Hit by Drone; Fire Extinguished, Crew Safe
A Kuwaiti oil tanker struck by a drone off Dubai had a fire that is now extinguished; all 24 crew members are reported safe.
A Kuwait-flagged tanker near Dubai was struck by a drone attack, sparking a blaze that was later put out, local authorities said. The Al Salmi, docked and carrying about two million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, was in the process of docking when the incident occurred. The fire aboard the vessel has since been extinguished and there were no injuries reported among the crew.
Dubai authorities described the incident as a drone attack. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed all 24 crew members are safe and uninjured as the investigation continues. The tanker remained in the area while responders contained the blaze, and traffic in nearby waters was reportedly cleared while crews worked to secure the site.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions in Gulf shipping lanes, where critical crude flows traverse nearby waters. No immediate details on the attacker or motive have been released, and authorities said inquiries are ongoing. As the fire is now extinguished, the focus is shifting to assessing any environmental impact and the fate of the cargo aboard the Al Salmi.
Industry observers will be watching closely for any disruption to two million barrels of oil linked to shipments from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with potential ripple effects on regional markets and insurance costs for vessels in the area.
