ADNOC vessel sustains damage during UAE waters attack

A vessel operated by ADNOC Logistics and Services was damaged in an attack inside the United Arab Emirates’ territorial waters on Tuesday afternoon, the company confirmed, as maritime security concerns persisted across the Arabian Gulf.

The Abu Dhabi-based operator said response teams were dealing with the incident, which occurred on November 10. It did not identify the vessel, disclose its position within UAE waters or specify the nature and extent of the damage.

The company also gave no information about possible injuries, the number of crew members aboard or whether the vessel was carrying cargo. No perpetrator was identified in its statement, and the method of attack remained unconfirmed.

“Response efforts by the relevant teams are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available,” ADNOC Logistics and Services said.

The announcement left several operational questions unanswered, including whether the ship remained seaworthy, required assistance or had been moved to a safe location. The operator did not say whether any pollution had occurred or whether the incident affected other vessels navigating nearby waters.

The attack took place within UAE territorial waters rather than merely along an international shipping route, placing renewed attention on the security of commercial vessels operating close to the country's coastline. The precise location was not released, preventing an assessment of its proximity to ports, offshore installations or established shipping lanes.

A separate maritime security alert on Tuesday described a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile near Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the incident occurred approximately 19 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, at 13.38 GMT. Its account indicated that crew members were safe and no environmental impact had been reported.

The centre said the tanker’s master planned to assess the damage at first light. It did not identify the ship or establish where the projectile originated. There was no confirmed connection between that incident and the attack disclosed by ADNOC Logistics and Services.

The two alerts nevertheless highlighted the difficulties facing operators moving energy cargoes through waters around the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial shipping has been exposed to repeated security threats during the regional conflict. Vessel operators must distinguish verified navigational warnings from unconfirmed claims when deciding whether routes can be used safely.

ADNOC has previously disclosed attacks on its fleet while vessels were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. On August 14, the group confirmed an attack on one of its ships and said no injuries had occurred. It issued a similar account concerning two vessels attacked the previous evening, also reporting no injuries.

Earlier, on August 7, ADNOC said 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones since the conflict began. The group said those incidents had caused one death and injuries to 20 crew members. Those figures were issued in August and should not be treated as an updated casualty count following Tuesday’s incident.

The company has emphasised the importance of protecting seafarers and maintaining freedom of navigation. Its operational notices say business units are assessing conditions individually, taking account of locations, products and transactions while coordinating with UAE authorities.

For shipowners and charterers, the immediate consequences of any attack depend on the vessel involved, the condition of its crew and whether nearby navigation is restricted. ADNOC Logistics and Services provided no indication on Tuesday of changes to sailing schedules, cargo deliveries or its wider fleet operations.

The operator is the maritime logistics arm of the ADNOC group and is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange under the symbol ADNOCLS. Its activities include integrated logistics, shipping and marine services for energy customers, making vessel availability and safe passage central to its operations.

Its portfolio includes offshore support vessels as well as shipping operations, and the company has expanded its fleet through acquisitions. However, the limited information released about Tuesday’s incident did not establish which part of that portfolio was affected.

The statement did not indicate whether a formal investigation had begun, identify any authority leading an inquiry or provide a publicly available timetable for its findings. Nor did it specify whether the vessel had issued a distress call.

ADNOC Logistics and Services urged members of the public to rely on official information and avoid circulating rumours or unverified accounts. The company said additional details would be issued when available.