Towing attacked vessel at Damietta Port to safer area took two hours

CAIRO – 1 August 2026: Captain Abdel Fattah Taha, the chief guide who led the operation to tow the burning vessel at Damietta Port to a safe area within two hours, said that he and his team used tugboats to move the vessel while simultaneously conducting firefighting operations during the towing process.

In comments to Extra News channel, Taha said that the operation to tow the vessel, which was carrying 600,000 cubic meters of natural gas, to a safe location lasted two hours.

He explained that the operation relied entirely on tugboats, as there were no operational facilities or crew members available on board the vessel. Two tugs were assigned to tow the ship, while two additional tugs assisted in firefighting efforts as the vessel was being moved.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a press conference on Thursday to address the Damietta Port incident, stating that controlling the blaze required a major, hours-long effort, with personnel risking their lives to contain the fire.

He said that limited information was initially released because response teams were working continuously for nearly 13 hours to bring the fire under control, stressing that "our absolute focus was on extinguishing it."

"By early Thursday morning, around 2:00 AM, we confirmed beyond any doubt that the attack was carried out by a drone. Security forces are currently analyzing the drone wreckage and the collected evidence to determine its origin," Madbouly said.

He emphasized that although there are various speculations surrounding the incident, the state does not act based on assumptions. "We rely strictly on verified facts so that we can respond appropriately," he added.

Additionally repting by Aya Samir