Tanker Struck Just North of Dubai

In the latest escalation of maritime attacks in the Persian Gulf amid the ongoing Iran conflict, a fully laden Kuwaiti crude oil supertanker was struck early Tuesday by what authorities described as an Iranian drone or an unknown projectile while anchored in Dubai waters. The incident occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m. local time in Anchorage, “E” of Dubai Port, about 31 nautical miles (57 km) northwest of Dubai.

The vessel, identified as the Al-Salmi (also spelled Al Salmi), is a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) operated by the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, a subsidiary of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). The supertanker measures approximately 333 meters in length with a deadweight capacity of around 319,660 tonnes and was fully loaded with crude oil at the time of the attack.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed in an official statement that the Al-Salmi was “directly targeted” in what it called a “malicious” Iranian attack. The strike caused hull damage on the starboard side and ignited a fire onboard. KPC warned of a potential oil spill in surrounding waters and stated that a detailed technical assessment of the damage is underway, with all necessary measures being taken to safeguard the vessel and mitigate environmental risks.

BREAKING: An oil tanker just northwest of Dubai was just STRUCK by a projectile. There are no confirmations on who’s responsible (we all know.)

Very bad decision for whoever decided to launch an attack.

Trump’s not going to be very pleased to say the least. pic.twitter.com/9wIQw6SWMw

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 30, 2026

#UAE attacked during the night. #Iran war is spreading fast as #Dubai was hit hard at ~3:30am local time. Missiles hit Deira, DIFC + airport where all the night flights were cancelled or postponed. Local SWAT team intervened and silenced all the few foreigners attempting to leave pic.twitter.com/I5b6P521cc

— InvestorXI (@InvestorXI) March 30, 2026

No Injuries Reported

All 24 crew members aboard the Al-Salmi are safe and accounted for, with no casualties or injuries reported. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that maritime firefighting teams have responded immediately and are working to bring the fire under control in line with established emergency procedures. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported the incident, noting that the crew remains safe and that no environmental impact has been confirmed so far, though an investigation is ongoing.

Context of Other Attacks

This marks the latest in a series of strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure in the Gulf region as tensions with Iran have intensified. While no other major attacks were reported in the immediate hours surrounding this incident on March 30–31, the broader campaign has included previous projectile strikes on vessels near Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and other UAE coastal areas earlier in March. The Al-Salmi attack comes as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already slowed significantly due to security concerns.

Oil markets reacted swiftly to the news, with U.S. crude futures rising more than 3% in early trading as concerns over further disruptions to Gulf energy flows mounted.

Responses and Next Steps Dubai Authorities: Civil defense and maritime firefighting teams are actively managing the fire at Anchorage “E”. The Dubai Media Office emphasized that the situation is being handled according to protocol and promised further updates.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation: Coordinating damage assessment and spill-prevention efforts; described the strike as deliberate and is working with international partners.

UKMTO: Issued an advisory confirming the projectile strike and is monitoring the situation closely.

Regional Context: The UAE and Kuwait have not issued broader retaliatory statements at this time, but the incident underscores the vulnerability of anchored tankers even in major commercial ports.

Energy News Beat will continue to monitor developments, including any confirmed environmental impact or updates on Al-Salmi’s status. The attack highlights the growing risks to global energy supply chains as the conflict in the region enters a more volatile phase.