A drone strike on an floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and an LNG carrier at Egypt's Damietta terminal on Wednesday threatens to extend the Middle East's widening maritime conflict into the Mediterranean, according to Splash247.
Maritime security firm Ambrey assessed that an unidentified drone struck the US-owned Energos Winter while it was alongside the terminal, Splash247 reported. The impact started a fire that spread to the adjacent GasLog Salem. Other security reporting suggested that both vessels were struck by projectiles. The Energos Winter was reportedly hit on its starboard side, while the GasLog Salem sustained damage close to its forward cargo tanks.
Both fires were extinguished with assistance from local emergency services. All crew were reported safe, with no deaths or injuries. The vessels were moved away from their berths and remained offshore from Damietta following the incident, according to Splash247.
Inchcape Shipping Services said an explosion occurred during cargo-discharge operations and temporarily forced a partial closure of the terminal, although activity at unaffected berths resumed overnight.
Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum confirmed fires aboard a regasification vessel and a gas storage ship but did not endorse the drone-strike assessment, Splash247 reported. It said emergency procedures were activated immediately and that the situation had been brought under control. Social media videos appear to show the drone inbound.
Vessel details
The Energos Winter, with a capacity of 138,250 cubic metres, is operated by US-based Energos Infrastructure and forms part of Egypt's expanded floating LNG import system. It can deliver up to 650 million standard cubic feet of regasified gas per day and is one of four FSRUs deployed to support the country's gas network.
The GasLog Salem is a 2015-built LNG carrier of 155,000 cubic metres, operated by GasLog.
| Vessel | Type | Capacity | Operator | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energos Winter | FSRU | 138,250 cu m | Energos Infrastructure | US-owned; delivers 650m standard cu ft/day; part of Egypt's LNG import system |
| GasLog Salem | LNG carrier | 155,000 cu m | GasLog | Built 2015; struck near forward cargo tanks |
Operational impact
The incident represents a significant escalation, Splash247 reported. Recent strikes on merchant shipping and energy infrastructure have been concentrated around the Strait of Hormuz and southern Red Sea. Damietta lies on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, far beyond those established war-risk zones.
For logistics operators, this attack introduces a new security threat in a previously unimpacted region. The partial closure of the Damietta terminal — even temporarily — can disrupt LNG cargo flows and may affect vessel scheduling. While the terminal resumed operations at unaffected berths, shippers and carriers should review their risk assessments for Mediterranean ports and consider war-risk insurance implications. No injuries were reported, but the damage to two high-value gas vessels underscores the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to aerial threats.
Watch list
No specific upcoming factors were mentioned in the report, but this event signals a shift in the threat landscape that will require close monitoring by all stakeholders operating in or near the eastern Mediterranean.
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