Oil Tankers Crash Off Fujairah Coast
Two crude oil tankers collided at the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, just 15 nautical miles off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
The incident occurred during the night hours and involved the Front Eagle, a Liberia-flagged vessel operated by Frontline, and the Adalynn, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda.
According to a report by Lloyd's List, the Front Eagle, managed by Anglo-Eastern, was fully laden and en route to Zhoushan Port, China, at the time of the incident. The Adalynn, listed among the so-called “dark fleet,” had just departed its anchorage in ballast condition.
Frontline confirmed that all crew members aboard the Front Eagle were safe and unharmed. A fire that broke out on the vessel's deck was swiftly extinguished.
The UAE National Guard deployed search and rescue boats to evacuate all 24 crew members from the Adalynn, who were subsequently transferred to Khor Fakkan Port.
Frontline reported that a fire was observed aboard the Adalynn following the collision, and according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the vessel sustained structural damage as a result of the impact.
In a public statement, Frontline announced: “A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the maritime incident. This was a navigational accident and is not related to the ongoing regional conflict.”
It was also noted that the Front Eagle experienced some interference in its Automatic Identification System (AIS) approximately 24 hours prior to the collision.
UKMTO had previously warned vessels in the area of increased electronic interference amid the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel.
