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Egypt’s cabinet stated Thursday that a preliminary investigation determined the fire at Damietta Port the day before resulted from a drone attack, marking an escalation as the first such strike on Egyptian territory during the ongoing Middle East conflict. No party has claimed responsibility for the incident, according to the statement from the Prime Minister’s office, which added that authorities continue investigations and are implementing measures to safeguard national security and interests. The cabinet’s update followed initial reports from British maritime security firm Ambrey that identified a drone striking a U.S.-owned floating storage and regasification vessel.
The Egyptian petroleum ministry reported that the fire broke out on a regasification vessel and a storage vessel stationed at the port, with the blaze addressed immediately under approved emergency and rapid response plans involving firefighting and security teams. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi visited the site to oversee containment efforts and ensure coordination among all relevant authorities until the situation was resolved, the ministry said in its statement. No injuries or casualties occurred, and technical teams remain on site to complete operations and assess any further impact, according to the ministry’s findings.
In a statement, the Damietta Port Authority confirmed the continued full operational efficiency of the port, with all terminals and berths experiencing regular vessel arrivals and departures. Loading, unloading and cargo handling of all types proceeded without interruption while services operated on a 24/7 basis, the authority said. The affected vessels, including the U.S.-operated Energos Winter and a Greek-owned LNG tanker, were towed offshore after the fire spread between them, port officials indicated in related updates.
The petroleum ministry’s initial statement on Wednesday had confirmed the fire and response measures but did not specify a cause, a detail later clarified by the cabinet’s investigation results. This sequence of official communications underscored the government’s focus on rapid containment and transparency amid regional maritime security concerns. Maritime tracking data from multiple firms aligned with the authorities’ account of the incident’s location within the harbor area.
Damietta Port functions as a strategic hub for Egypt’s liquefied natural gas trade, supporting both import and export activities that form a key part of the country’s energy infrastructure, according to longstanding assessments from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The confirmation of normal operations comes at a time when broader Red Sea and Mediterranean shipping routes face heightened risks from regional tensions, though the port authority emphasised no disruption to its schedules or capacity. Investigations into the precise circumstances of the drone strike are expected to inform future protective protocols at the facility and similar installations.
