Egypt's Damietta Port Partially Closed After LNG Terminal Explosion
An explosion, reportedly caused by a drone strike, hit the LNG terminal at Egypt‘s Damietta Port on Wednesday evening, setting two gas ships ablaze. The US-owned and operated, Marshall Islands-flagged LNG floating storage facility, Energos Winter, was struck by at least one unmanned aerial vehicle during cargo discharge operations, according to maritime security firm Ambrey. The crew were evacuated, and the fire was brought under control. Two separate security sources confirmed that the cause of the blast was a drone strike, with no party claiming responsibility.
Local authorities responded promptly, and the situation was brought under control. The vessels involved have been safely relocated outside the port area, and port operations are expected to resume at other berths and terminals during the nighttime. Engineer Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, arrived at the site to monitor the situation and ensure the progress of control and safety measures. The Egyptian petroleum ministry reported that the fire broke out on regasification, with no injuries or fatalities.
The incident led to a partial closure of the port, with authorities urging the media and social media users to obtain information from official sources. The ministry confirmed that it would continue to follow up on the situation and announce any updates. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on energy infrastructure in the region, with tensions escalating in the Strait of Hormuz.
The explosion at Damietta Port is reminiscent of a similar incident involving a Qatari LNG tanker that was stranded off Oman after an attack, highlighting the growing concerns over maritime security in the region.
