Conflict & Security
Damietta port says operations continue after drone fire
The Damietta Port Authority said operations were continuing normally on Thursday after a fire the previous day that Egypt's government said was caused by a drone attack.
The authority said all terminals and berths were seeing regular vessel arrivals and departures, with loading, unloading and cargo handling continuing.
Egypt's government said a preliminary investigation found that the Wednesday fire at Damietta port resulted from a drone. It said no one had claimed responsibility and that the inquiry was continuing.
Authorities earlier reported that two gas ships were damaged in the blaze. Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler said the incident disrupted operations at a key LNG import hub and identified the damaged vessels as the Energos Winter storage and regasification vessel and the GasLog Salem tanker. Kpler said the vessels had been moved offshore after the incident.
Private security monitor Ambrey had previously reported that the Greek-owned, Bermuda-flagged tanker and the US-owned and operated floating storage vessel were hit by at least one unidentified drone.
Update
The Damietta Port Authority said operations were continuing at full operational efficiency.
The authority said terminals and berths were seeing regular vessel arrivals and departures, with loading, unloading and cargo handling continuing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 08:44:11 UTC.
Update
The incident was described as the first drone attack to target Egypt since the outbreak of the Middle East war.
The fire came as the United States and Iran had returned to hostilities after a brief lull aimed at reviving negotiations.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 08:20:32 UTC.
Update
Egypt's prime minister's office said a preliminary investigation determined the fire resulted from a drone.
The office said no one had claimed responsibility.
Egypt said the inquiry was ongoing to determine the circumstances and take measures to protect national security and interests.
A former head of the Damietta Port Authority said any leak during high-pressure regasification could lead to a fire.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 08:00:28 UTC.
Update
Egypt's prime minister's office said the fire at Damietta port was caused by a drone attack.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 07:31:50 UTC.
Update
Kpler said the explosion disrupted operations at a key LNG import hub.
Kpler said the Energos Winter storage and regasification vessel and the GasLog Salem tanker were damaged.
Kpler said both vessels were moved offshore while authorities assessed the situation.
UK-based Ambrey reported that the vessels were hit by at least one unidentified drone, but AFP could not verify that and Egyptian authorities and other monitors did not confirm it.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 19:06:50 UTC.
Update
Former Damietta Port Authority head Major General Ayman Salah said a regasification ship was moored next to an LNG tanker in the harbour.
Salah said regasification takes place under very high pressure and that any leak could lead to a fire.
Egypt’s oil ministry said procedures were being taken to assess the implications of the situation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 17:47:04 UTC.
Update
The ships were used for gas processing and storage.
The fire was at the Egyptian port of Damietta.
Egypt's oil ministry said there were no injuries.
The ministry said emergency and rapid response plans were used, but did not identify the cause.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 16:55:04 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Responsibility for the alleged drone attack has not been claimed.
Egypt's government described the drone finding as preliminary and said the inquiry was continuing.
Kpler reported disruption after the fire, while the Damietta Port Authority later said operations were continuing at full operational efficiency.
Source
AFP news report published on .