Two gas ships on fire in Egyptian port: ministry

Two ships used for the processing and storage of gas caught fire in the Egyptian port of Damietta on Wednesday, without causing injuries, according to the oil ministry.

Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler said that the explosion had disrupted operations at a key LNG import hub, and damaged the Energos Winter storage and regasification vessel and the GasLog Salem tanker.

"Both vessels have been moved offshore as authorities assess the situation," it said, without ascribing a cause to the fire.

One private security monitor, UK-based Ambrey, reported that the Greek-owned and Bermuda-flagged tanker and the US-owned-and-operated floating storage vessel were hit by at least one unidentified drone.

But AFP was unable to verify this and neither the Egyptian authorities nor other private sector monitors confirmed this. US Central Command declined an AFP request for comment.

Energy facilities elsewhere in the region have been hit by drones and missiles during the United States' ongoing war with Iran, but Egypt has so far been spared.

"The situation was handled immediately in accordance with emergency and rapid response plans," the Egyptian ministry said, without identifying the cause of the blaze.

"The necessary procedures are being taken to assess the implications of the situation."

The former head of the Damietta Port Authority, Major General Ayman Salah, told AFP that the regasification ship was moored next to the LNG tanker in the harbour.

"The regasification process takes place under very high pressure," he said, explaining that any leak could lead to a fire.