Rumours of Ships on Fire in Gulf of Oman Under Scrutiny, Official Sources Cite Collision Only
On June 17, 2025, multiple social media users and satellite imagery posts circulated reports suggesting that three ships were ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel. These images quickly went viral, but no official confirmation has been issued by any government agency or international maritime organization.
In response to the online speculation, the British maritime security firm Ambrey described the situation as “an incident” and explicitly refrained from confirming any fires aboard three vessels. Ambrey’s measured statement underlines the lack of concrete evidence regarding fires, explosions, or hostile activity in that area.
Concurrently, the United Arab Emirates Coast Guard and National Guard responded to a confirmed collision between two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. According to the AP and the Wall Street Journal, the crude oil tanker ADALYNN was involved in the collision, and its 24 crew members were evacuated safely to the port of Khor Fakkan using search and rescue vessels. Authorities emphasized that the collision was not linked to any security incident, and no fire or attack was reported.
The location of the collision, approximately 24 nautical miles off the UAE coast and east of the Strait of Hormuz, has heightened concern over maritime security in a region responsible for transporting nearly 20 million barrels of oil daily. The timing of this non-security-related collision, ahead of the publicized rumour of burning ships, contributed to speculation and alarm across markets and social media platforms.
Experts caution that digital-era rumours and dramatic satellite visuals can create false crises. Social media trends and imagery, even when taken out of context, can inflate risk perception, influence oil prices, and prompt shipping firms to reroute or suspend voyages. Industry analysts stress the importance of relying on verified sources, such as coast guards, insurance bodies, and firms like Ambrey, to distinguish between confirmed incidents and speculative claims.
At present, the only verified event is the tanker collision involving ADALYNN, which resulted in a safe evacuation and posed no oil spill or security threat. The social media claims of three burning vessels remain unsubstantiated and should be treated as unverified speculation until credible evidence emerges from official sources.
