Oil Leak Reported After “Large Explosion” Near Tanker Off Kuwait, Crew Safe

A tanker anchored off Kuwait reported a large explosion near its port side late on March 4.

The incident caused oil to leak from one of the vessel’s cargo tanks into the sea, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The explosion occurred at around 22:40 UTC on March 4 (04:10 IST on March 5) about 30 nautical miles (56 km) southeast of Kuwait’s Mubarak Al Kabeer Port.

The vessel reportedly started taking on water after the blast. However, no fire was reported and the crew remained safe.

According to an advisory issued by UKMTO, the master of the tanker reported hearing and seeing a large explosion on the vessel’s port side while the ship was at anchor.

The master also reported seeing a small craft leaving the area shortly after the blast.

The agency said oil was visible in the water coming from a cargo tank, which could have some environmental impact. The vessel had taken on water but remained stable.

Authorities are investigating the incident.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry later clarified that the explosion did not occur within Kuwaiti territorial waters.

In a social media statement, the ministry said the incident happened at least 60 kilometres from Mubarak Al Kabeer Port and urged media outlets to rely on official information.

Officials also said reports claiming the explosion happened near the port were incorrect.

Following the incident, UKMTO advised ships in the area to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity.

The Gulf region is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and any security incidents near tanker routes can affect maritime operations and shipping risks.

In a separate incident, Reuters reported that the Bahamas-flagged crude oil tanker Sonangol Namibe was involved in an event near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port.

According to Sonangol Marine Services, a small boat approached the tanker at around 01:20 local time on March 5, and a loud bang was heard soon after.

Crew members later noticed that a port ballast tank was losing water, suggesting possible damage to the hull. The company said the vessel remained stable and afloat, and no pollution was reported.

The tanker was not carrying cargo at the time but was under contract with Iraq’s State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) and was expected to load about 80,000 tonnes of Iraqi fuel.

References: hindustantimes, reuters