ALBAWABA - Two oil tankers collided off the UAE, causing a fire in the sea, the UAE coastguard and a shipping company confirmed on Tuesday.
At least 24 crew members were rescued following the collision. Initial posts on social media reportedly claimed that three ships caught on fire; however, the reason behind it was unknown.
Rumors emerged at first that a strike amid exchanged attacks between Iran and Israel caused the fire in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. However, this allegation was denied by UK maritime security monitor Ambrey.
Ambrey confirmed that the fire in the sea was "not security-related".
Moreover, shipping company Frontline revealed that a fire was put out on its Front Eagle tanker after the collision with another oil transporter called Adalynn, 15 nautical miles off the UAE's Gulf of Oman coast.
"We are (also) aware of reports of a fire onboard the Adalynn following the collision," a Frontline statement read, adding: "There have been no reports of pollution at this time."
The UAE coastguard carried out "an evacuation mission involving 24 crew members of the oil tanker ADALYNN, following a collision between two ships in the Gulf of Oman", the UAE National Guard said on X.
