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Dubai authorities confirmed early Tuesday that a fire on the Kuwaiti crude oil tanker Al Salmi, anchored in Dubai waters, has been successfully extinguished. The Dubai Government Media Office said that response teams continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary precautions. All 24 crew members were secured, and no injuries were reported.
The fully loaded Al Salmi tanker caught fire on Monday while anchored at Dubai Port (Anchorage “E”), sustaining damage to its hull. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) reported that the vessel was targeted by Iranian drones, causing material damage and said there was a “possibility” of an oil spill in nearby waters. No confirmation of spill from the UAE authorities.
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The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that no environmental impact has been reported. It said the Company Security Officer reported an unknown projectile struck the starboard side, causing a fire, and the crew are safe and accounted for.
In the wee hours of Tuesday, the Dubai Government Media Office also said that the authorities were responding to a drone attack on the Kuwaiti tanker and that maritime firefighting teams were working to bring the fire under control.
The KPC said work is underway to assess damage to the tanker. Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows it is the parent company of Al Salmi’s registered owner and commercial operator. In a statement, KPC said that Al Salmi was subjected to a “direct and malicious Iranian attack” while it was in the anchorage area.
The tanker was loaded with two million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to data from Lloyd’s and TankerTrackers, Reuters reports.
This strike is the latest in a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. Missiles and explosive drones have targeted vessels since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
Earlier on Monday, a Greek-owned container ship located off the coast of Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura reported two separate incidents in which projectiles struck the water near the vessel, maritime security experts said.
Source: Khaleej Times