Marine officers at Damietta port battled major fires after a drone strike hit two LNG vessels moored side by side, raising fears of a port‑wide explosion. The US‑owned Energos Winter and the Greek‑owned GasLog Salem together carry about 300,000 cubic metres of gas; GasLog Salem's fire was contained within two hours while the Energos Winter burned until late evening. Investigators recovered drone fragments but Egypt has not attributed responsibility and says it will not be drawn into the wider regional war.
Egyptian Captains Describe Race to Avert Catastrophe After Drone Strike on Damietta Port
Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta was struck by an unprecedented drone strike on two gas vessels (-)
Marine officers who fought fires aboard two gas vessels struck by a drone at Egypt's Damietta port have described frantic efforts to prevent a catastrophic explosion that could have destroyed the port and spread into the city.
The two vessels — the US‑owned Energos Winter floating storage and regasification unit and the Greek‑owned LNG tanker GasLog Salem — were moored side by side on the Mediterranean and together hold roughly 300,000 cubic metres of gas.
Explosions, Rapid Response and Evacuation
Officers said an initial explosion was heard aboard the GasLog Salem at about 14:10 local time (11:10 GMT). Ten minutes later a much larger explosion ripped through the Energos Winter, sparking a wider blaze. Crews raced to contain both fires; the GasLog Salem crew quickly shut gas tank valves and its blaze was extinguished within two hours, while the fire on the Energos Winter continued until about 20:00 after the vessel's crew had evacuated.
Emergency responders encircled each ship with firefighting tugboats, separated and towed the vessels away from critical port infrastructure, and battled the flames through the afternoon and evening.
Drone Evidence and Investigation
Initially, neither captain realised the damage was caused by a drone. "No one saw anything. The only alert we received was for a high‑pressure tank," one officer said. After the fires were put out, investigators recovered fragments consistent with a small drone. Officers said the device appeared to have slipped past air‑defence systems and port surveillance, though these claims have not been independently verified.
"The entire port could have exploded, along with parts of the city of Damietta," one officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Official Response
Egypt has not publicly attributed responsibility for the strike. A security official involved in the forensic probe described the case as "complicated and confusing" and said authorities expect the investigation to take time before definitive conclusions are released. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said the vessels had been moved because of fear of "an explosion that could impact the entire port."
Officials emphasised that Egypt will not be drawn into the wider regional conflict. "This is not Egypt's war and we will not be provoked," a security source said, adding that Cairo is capable of defending its national security "at a time and place of its choosing."
Reporting details are based on statements to AFP from on‑scene officers and security officials; some accounts remain unverified pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Help us improve.
