At least 3 ships on fire after collision in Gulf of Oman, UAE sends rescue teams

At least three vessels are reportedly on fire in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following what officials described as a collision between two ships.

The incident has triggered an emergency response and raised concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes.

According to the UAE National Guard, the collision prompted a major rescue operation earlier on Tuesday.

“The Coast Guard of the National Guard carried out today, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, an evacuation mission involving 24 crew members of the oil tanker ADALYNN, following a collision between two ships in the Gulf of Oman. The ship’s crew was evacuated from the incident site, located 24 nautical miles off the country’s coast, to the Port of Khor Fakkan using search and rescue boats,” the National Guard said in a statement posted on X.

Unverified images circulating on social media appeared to show large plumes of smoke and fire rising from the sea, with some users claiming the visuals depicted oil tankers burning near the Iranian coastline.

While these claims remain unconfirmed, satellite and maritime monitoring data suggest that a serious maritime incident has taken place.

One of the fires was reported aboard a vessel approximately 22 nautical miles from the coast of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. Authorities have not confirmed if this blaze is directly linked to the reported ship collision, and the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed it is aware of a “vessel-related incident” near Khor Fakkan in UAE waters. The company said it is actively monitoring the situation, which is unfolding in a high-traffic maritime corridor critical to global oil shipments. Though Ambrey has not released further details, its acknowledgement supports earlier reports of a vessel fire in the area.

NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) also detected three active fire zones in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday. The heat signatures, not present in previous days, indicate recent and ongoing fire activity, lending additional credibility to reports of the incident.

So far, Iranian authorities and other international officials have not commented on the situation. It remains unclear whether any of the vessels were targeted or if the fires were the result of mechanical failures or navigational errors.

The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, has historically been a flashpoint for naval tensions and oil tanker incidents. With nearly 20% of global oil supplies passing through its narrow waters, any disruption could have wide-reaching implications for energy markets.

Further details are expected as maritime agencies conduct investigations and assess the scene in daylight.

With inputs from agencies