Operations at Oman's Port of Salalah were temporarily suspended after a drone strike damaged container terminal infrastructure. The incident occurred on 28 March, when drones struck within the port area, damaging a ship-to-shore (STS) crane. Terminal operator APM Terminals, part of A.P. Moller – Maersk, confirmed that operations were halted and personnel evacuated.
In a statement, Maersk said safety protocols were activated immediately and that there was no reported damage to vessels or cargo. Hapag-Lloyd also confirmed disruption in an update regarding its vessel LISBON EXPRESS, stating that a “security incident involving drones” had led to the suspension of port activity while the situation was assessed with local authorities.
According to Reuters, one worker was injured in the incident, and operations were paused for approximately 48 hours as the terminal assessed the damage. The Port of Salalah serves as a strategic transhipment hub due to its proximity to major trade routes between the Indian Ocean, Asia, Europe, and Africa. The strike marked one of the first major incidents targeting Oman's maritime infrastructure and renewed regional security concerns.
Key Takeaways:
1. A drone strike hit the container terminal at Port of Salalah on 28 March.
2. APM Terminals halted operations and evacuated personnel.
3. A ship-to-shore (STS) crane was damaged and one worker was injured.
4. Hapag-Lloyd confirmed its vessel LISBON EXPRESS was affected.
5. Operations were paused for approximately 48 hours for damage assessment.
