Two oil tankers collided and briefly caught fire on Tuesday near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an area already under heightened tension due to ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel. Despite the dramatic incident, no injuries or oil spillage were reported.
The collision, which occurred roughly 24 nautical miles off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, has added to concerns about maritime safety in one of the world’s most crucial shipping lanes.
The UAE coast guard confirmed it had evacuated 24 crew members from one of the tankers, the Adalynn, to the port of Khor Fakkan following the crash. The second vessel, the Front Eagle, experienced a deck fire that was quickly contained.
All crew members aboard were reported safe, and there was no sign of pollution, according to its owner, the Oslo-listed shipping firm Frontline. The company stated that the cause of the incident will be investigated, although there is currently no indication of foul play or external interference.
The Front Eagle was transporting 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil to Zhoushan, China, while the Adalynn, a Suezmax-class tanker owned by India’s Global Shipping Holding Ltd, was sailing empty towards Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Both vessels were navigating the southern approaches of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
Tanker monitoring service TankerTrackers.com revealed that the Front Eagle was traveling at 13.1 knots southbound when it made a sudden starboard turn, resulting in a collision with the port aft quarter of the Adalynn, which was moving southeast at a much slower speed of 4.8 knots.
The incident comes amid a surge in electronic interference in the region. According to the US-led Combined Maritime Forces’ Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), ships have recently reported disruptions to navigation systems near the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and other areas in the Gulf.
Such interference is believed to be linked to the escalation of military tensions between Iran and Israel, who have exchanged missile attacks since last Friday.
Iran has not issued a statement regarding the collision or the reported electronic interference, although it has previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for Western sanctions.
MarineTraffic data on Tuesday showed dozens of tankers anchored near the strait, especially around UAE ports such as Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, and Sharjah, reflecting heightened caution among shipping operators. Some companies have paused voyages, while others await charter decisions amid uncertainty and potential risk escalation.
While war risk insurance premiums have risen sharply for ships bound for Israeli ports, rates for transit through the Gulf have remained relatively stable. However, industry experts caution that this could change rapidly.
“Rates, for the time being, remain stable with no noticeable increases since the latest hostilities between Israel and Iran,” said David Smith, head of marine at McGill and Partners. “This position could change dramatically depending on any further escalation or general conflagration in the area.”
The Strait of Hormuz continues to serve as a critical artery for global energy supplies, and any disruption—be it from conflict or accidents—has the potential to ripple across international oil markets.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members