UAE Coast Guard rescues 24 after tanker collision near Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Coast Guard announced on June 17 that it had successfully evacuated 24 crew members from the oil tanker Adalynn following a maritime collision in the Gulf of Oman, near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The rescue operation was launched after a collision involving multiple vessels in waters approximately 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan.

According to the British maritime security firm Ambrey, the incident was not security-related.

Maritime sources later confirmed to Reuters that the Adalynn had collided with two other ships.

The crash occurred amid a period of heightened regional tension, as Iran and Israel entered a fifth consecutive day of reciprocal military strikes, following Israel’s large-scale offensive on June 13. Israel has said the attacks were intended to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Naval sources cited by Reuters also reported a sharp rise in electronic interference affecting the navigation systems of commercial vessels transiting the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Gulf. This disruption has posed additional risks to maritime operations.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. An estimated one-fifth of global oil consumption flows through the strait.

Between January 2022 and May 2025, daily oil traffic through the waterway ranged from 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels, according to data from energy analytics firm Vortexa.

The UAE’s National Guard confirmed via a post on the social media platform X that the rescued crew members were safely transported to Khor Fakkan Port using search and rescue vessels.

By Tamilla Hasanova