Fujairah bunkering disrupted after drone debris fire
Bunker deliveries in the UAE port of Fujairah have been widely disrupted after a fire broke out on Tuesday at the Fujairah Petroleum Industrial Estate (FOIZ).
IMAGE: Bunker barge at berth in Fujairah, UAE. Port of Fujairah
The fire was caused by falling debris after air defense systems successfully intercepted a drone in the area.
No injuries were reported. Authorities brought the fire under control, and operations have since resumed.
Despite this, most bunker suppliers have halted deliveries due to uncertainty surrounding loadings, as some terminals remain closed. Bunker prices in Fujairah have surged sharply, with only a limited number of suppliers still quoting.
VLSFO prices in Fujairah have climbed by about $86/mt since the weekend, reaching roughly $563/mt.
A similar situation has emerged in Khor Fakkan, where bunker deliveries have also been affected. While local port authorities have not issued formal operational alerts, the Port of Fujairah authority has warned mariners about intermittent GPS spoofing and jamming in offshore areas near Fujairah. Such disruptions could lead to inaccurate positioning, erratic vessel movements, or false navigational signals.
Elsewhere in the UAE, port operations remain normal. Terminals in Jebel Ali, Hamriya and Sharjah are functioning without disruption. Ras Al Khaimah Port is also open and operating normally. Meanwhile, the petroleum ports of Ruwais and Abu Dhabi continue to function as usual, according to shipping agency Inchcape Shipping.
In Oman, two drones were intercepted in the airspace over Dhofar Governorate, while a third fell near the Port of Salalah. No casualties or material damage were reported, according to the state-backed Oman News Agency.
Operations at Salalah’s General Cargo Terminal (GCT) have been suspended until further notice, while Container Terminal (CT) operations have also been halted, according to GAC Hot Port News.
However, the Port of Salalah itself remains operational and is functioning normally at present. The same applies to the ports of Sohar, Duqm and Muscat, according to a source.
In Bahrain, all port movements have been temporarily suspended.
Ports across other regional countries—including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Cyprus and Lebanon—continue to operate normally so far, Inchcape Shipping said.
By Tuhin Roy
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