An explosion rocked a tanker in the Persian Gulf on March 5, 2026, causing an oil leak and raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), reported that the blast occurred about 30 nautical miles (around 56 kilometers) southeast of the Kuwaiti city of Mubarak Al-Kabeer. The vessel was anchored at the time of the incident, The Caspian Post reports via UKMTO.

Captain Reports Powerful Blast

According to UKMTO, the tanker’s captain said he both heard and saw a powerful explosion on the port side of the ship. Shortly afterward, a small boat was observed leaving the area.

The explosion damaged one of the cargo tanks, leading to an oil spill into the sea. The vessel also began taking on water, though no fire was reported.

Crew Safe, Investigation Underway

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry stated that the incident occurred outside the country’s territorial waters, roughly 60 kilometers from the port. No injuries were reported among the crew.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the blast, but the oil leak could pose serious environmental risks in the Gulf’s sensitive marine ecosystem.