Kuwaiti VLCC Al Salmi struck by drone at Dubai anchorage

Photo: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation

The fully-laden Kuwaiti VLCC Al Salmi has become the latest vessel struck in the ongoing Mid East conflict that has effectively closedf the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted world oil and gas supplies, with severe economic impacts.

Windward AI says that the Al Salmi was targeted by a drone strike at Anchorage “E” off Dubai.

In transit to China with about 2 million barrels of crude, the vessel is now stationary as authorities assess hull integrity.

Windward says that its analysis identified 49+ large tankers currently bottlenecked in this zone alone, highlighting the extreme risk to idling assets.

While videos appeared on YouTube showing clouds of smoke billowing from the Al Salmi, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed that the crew had successfully extinguished the fire that broke out on the vessel as the result of what the company said was “a direct Iranian attack.”

Crew members brought the fire under control by 4.26 a.m. local time with the help of UAE authorities. No injuries were reported among the 24 crew members and there was no oil spill or environmental damage.