Two tankers, including a U.S.-owned natural gas storage vessel, caught fire following explosions at the Egyptian Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation as the Middle East conflict expands beyond its initial theaters. The incident was reported by multiple maritime tracking companies, with at least one attributing the blasts to a drone strike, although neither Egyptian authorities nor the vessels’ owners have officially confirmed this.
The damaged vessels were reportedly moved away from Damietta Port, which lies near the Suez Canal. Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum stated via social media that there were no confirmed casualties. Among the affected ships was the Energos Winter, a U.S.-flagged storage tanker owned by Energos Infrastructure, based in Stamford, Connecticut. Its representative, Jonathan Chia, confirmed that all crew members were safe but said the company was still investigating whether the vessel had been directly targeted by a drone.
The other struck vessel was the GasLog Salem, a liquefied natural gas carrier operated by the Greek company GasLog. The company’s spokesperson, Marina Leonidhopoulos, confirmed the ship caught fire after an explosion, which maritime tracking firm Ambrey attributed to at least one drone attack. Ambrey has not identified the attackers.
Two unnamed Iranian sources familiar with regional security suggested the drone strikes were intended to signal that global shipping and energy supplies could experience further disruptions if Iran decided to escalate the conflict. However, they did not specify whether the attacks were launched directly by Iran or by allied militias in the region.
In the United States, former President Donald Trump acknowledged the explosion during a press briefing, suggesting Iran’s involvement without providing detailed evidence. He described the incident as a continuation of ongoing hostilities and indicated that the U.S. planned to respond robustly.
The strikes come as regional maritime routes have already been under strain amid the ongoing war that began in late February. Shipping companies have increasingly avoided the Persian Gulf and Red Sea due to attacks and threats against vessels and maritime chokepoints. This includes the Strait of Hormuz, a key gateway to the Persian Gulf, where traffic remains significantly below prewar levels. Similarly, the Red Sea route has seen a substantial drop in vessel traffic, partly due to threats from the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen.
While Egypt is not a major natural gas exporter, this attack on Mediterranean shipping raises concerns about the potential for disruption extending beyond traditional hotspots. The Energos Winter is leased by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, a state-owned entity, while Energos Infrastructure is linked to investment funds managed by Apollo Global Management, which declined to comment on the incident.
As tensions widen into new geographic areas, the security of maritime trade routes in the region is likely to remain volatile, complicating global energy markets and trade logistics.