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Dubai puts out Kuwaiti oil tanker fire after drone attack; no spill, crew safe
Al Salmi tanker caught fire on Monday while anchored at Dubai Port, Anchorage E, sustaining damage to its hull, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported
- PUBLISHED: Tue 31 Mar 2026, 6:44 AM UPDATED: Tue 31 Mar 2026, 12:04 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
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 confirmed no oil leakage after incident as response teams stabilised the situation. All 24 crew members were secured, and no injuries were reported.
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The 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 fully-loaded vessel was targeted by Iranian drones, causing material damage.
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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.
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 US 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.
Ajanta Paul is a Senior Editor on the Digital team. A natural leader and newshound, she thrives in breaking news and high-pressure situations — and enjoys reporting on community issues that matter to UAE residents.
