UAV Strikes US-Owned LNG Vessel Off Egyptian Coast

DAMIETTA, Egypt — A United States-owned liquefied natural gas floating storage facility was struck by at least one unmanned aerial vehicle off the coast of Damietta on Tuesday afternoon. The vessel, flagged in the Marshall Islands and operated by Ambrey, sustained damage from the impact near a critical energy corridor in the Mediterranean Sea.

The attack occurred shortly after 4:01 p.m. local time as the ship remained stationary in international waters adjacent to Egyptian territorial limits. Emergency crews responded immediately following reports of an explosion on deck. While initial assessments indicate significant structural compromise, no casualties have been confirmed among the crew members aboard at the time of the incident.

Ambrey has not yet released a detailed statement regarding the condition of its personnel or the extent of damage to the facility's containment systems. The company operates several floating storage and regasification units globally, with this vessel serving as a key node in regional energy distribution networks. Local Egyptian authorities have established a perimeter around the incident site, restricting maritime traffic within a five-mile radius while salvage teams evaluate stability risks.

The motive behind the strike remains unclear. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and officials from both Washington and Cairo have declined to comment on potential links to regional conflicts or specific state actors. The vessel was not engaged in any known military operation at the time of the incident but was positioned near active shipping lanes that frequently transit between Europe and Asia.

Maritime security experts note that attacks on commercial energy infrastructure in this region remain rare, though tensions have escalated across North Africa following recent geopolitical shifts. The Egyptian Coast Guard has deployed additional patrol boats to monitor the area for further threats or debris fields resulting from the strike.

Ambrey's parent company is expected to coordinate with U.S. diplomatic channels regarding security protocols and potential evacuation procedures if structural integrity cannot be guaranteed within 24 hours. Meanwhile, international shipping insurers are reviewing coverage implications as similar vessels in the region consider rerouting plans pending further intelligence on the nature of the threat.

Questions remain about whether this was an isolated incident or part of a broader campaign targeting energy infrastructure. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional drones being deployed against other nearby assets. As night falls over Damietta, searchlights illuminate the damaged vessel while naval vessels maintain vigilance around its hull.