Incident and immediate response
A fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker, the Al Salmi, was struck while at anchor in Dubai Port's anchorage on Monday, sparking a fire that maritime firefighting teams subsequently extinguished, authorities said. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) reported early on Tuesday that the vessel had been hit in what it described as an Iranian attack. KPC said the strike damaged the tankers hull and caused a fire onboard, and it warned of a possible oil spill in surrounding waters, according to the Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA.
Dubai authorities said the blaze, which they said was caused by a drone attack, was successfully put out by maritime firefighting units. They added that assessments of the situation were ongoing, that no injuries were reported and that all 24 crew members were safe.
Cargo, ownership and routing
Data cited by shipping intelligence services show the Al Salmi was fully loaded with about 2 million barrels of oil originating from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Lloyd's and TankerTrackers listed the cargo volume and identified the destination as Qingdao, China. KPC is reported, based on Lloyd's List Intelligence data, to be the parent company of the Al Salmi's registered owner and commercial operator, and it stated that work was underway to assess the damage to the tanker.
Market reaction
News of the strike on the tanker coincided with a rise in Brent crude futures, which were up over 2% to $115.17 per barrel in early Asian trading. Prices later retreated somewhat after a Wall Street Journal report that President Donald Trump is willing to end the war even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Separately, Brent was on track for a 59% increase in March, representing its largest monthly gain on record, a move the reporting linked to the regional conflict in the Middle East.
Related maritime incidents
On the same day, maritime security advisories reported two separate incidents involving a Greek-owned container ship off the coast of Saudi Arabia near Ras Tanura. A representative of the Liberian-flagged Express Rome reported that two unknown projectiles splashed into the water near the vessel about 22 nautical miles (40.7 km) northeast of Ras Tanura at 1352 GMT. The events occurred within an hour of each other and the crew was reported safe by British maritime risk-management group Vanguard.
Vanguard noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on the Express Rome on March 11. The operator of the Express Rome did not immediately provide a comment. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike on the Al Salmi or for the projectiles that landed near the container ship. Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Assessments and next steps
Authorities in Kuwait and Dubai continue to evaluate the extent of the damage to the Al Salmi and the environmental risk posed by the reported damage to the hull and the cargo onboard. KPC's statement indicated salvage and damage assessment operations were underway. Local maritime teams had controlled and extinguished the onboard fire, but the possibility of an oil spill in surrounding waters remains a concern that responders are monitoring.
Contextual note
The attack on the Al Salmi is the latest among a series of assaults on merchant vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz since late February, involving missiles and explosive air and sea drones, according to the reporting. The incidents have introduced additional variables into global energy markets and raised questions about maritime safety in the region while official statements and on-site assessments continue.