Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 20, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
The MV Falcon LPG tanker exploded in the Gulf of Aden, leading to ongoing salvage operations. Most crew members were rescued, but two remain missing.
ATHENS (Reuters) -An operation was underway on Monday to salvage the liquefied petroleum gas tanker MV Falcon, which remains on fire and adrift in the Gulf of Aden following an October 18 explosion on board, maritime security sources said.
The Cameroon-flagged vessel was fully laden when the explosion occurred at 0700 GMT as it was sailing off Yemen, forcing most of its 26 crew members to abandon the vessel.
The cause of the blast is unclear, but early indications suggest it was an accident related to its cargo, the European Union's naval mission Aspides and the sources have said.
Two of its crew members are still unaccounted for. The rest, recovered by passing merchant vessels, have been safely transferred to Djibouti.
A private company has taken on the salvage operation, Aspides said. Maritime security sources said that a firefighting vessel was alongside the MV Falcon on Monday. Efforts to salvage the vessel are still underway, one of the sources said.
The MV Falcon was travelling from Oman's Sohar Port to Djibouti when the blast occurred.
A Houthi defence ministry official said the group had no connection to the incident, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile strikes on ships in the Red Sea region since 2023, saying their attacks are acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza.
Aspides has advised vessels sailing in the area to exert caution due to the incident, which posed a navigational hazard.
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Yannis Souliotis; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily propane and butane, used as fuel for heating, cooking, and in vehicles. It is stored under pressure in liquid form.
A salvage operation refers to the process of recovering a ship or its cargo after an accident or disaster. This can involve removing the vessel from danger, repairing it, or retrieving valuable items.
Maritime security involves measures taken to protect ships, ports, and cargo from threats such as piracy, terrorism, and environmental hazards. It ensures safe navigation and trade on the seas.
A crew member is an individual who works on a ship or aircraft, responsible for various tasks such as navigation, maintenance, and passenger safety. They play a crucial role in the operation of the vessel.
A navigational hazard is any condition or object that poses a risk to safe navigation at sea, such as wrecks, shallow waters, or other obstacles. It can endanger vessels and their crews.
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