A China-bound oil tanker within the Red Sea was hit and temporarily disabled by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi fighters, US Central Command said.
Saturday’s strike on the Greek M/T Wind caused flooding that disabled its propulsion and controls, which the crew restored without assistance from a coalition ship responding to a distress call. The Wind, which last docked in Russia, resumed its course under its own power, Centcom said in a press release. No casualties were reported.
Although Centcom didn’t disclose a location, Agence-France Presse reported earlier Saturday that an oil tanker was hit near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, about 10 nautical miles (19 kilometers) southwest of the Yemeni port of Mokha. AFP quoted maritime security company Ambrey.
In response to Israel’s war against Hamas within the Gaza Strip, the Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking warships and merchant vessels passing through the Red Sea since mid-November, particularly those with ties to Israel, the US and the UK. They have effectively closed a key global shipping route, forcing ships traveling between Asia and Europe to avoid the Suez Canal and sail around southern Africa.
Separately, UK Maritime Trade Operations previously reported a vessel with some damage 98 nautical miles south of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The ship, named Master, sustained minor damage after being hit by an unknown object within the harbor area. The ship and its crew were secure and continued to their next port of call.
Shipping and cargo industry officials expect the Red Sea to stay dangerous for a lot of more months, if not the remaining of the 12 months, putting some upward pressure on energy markets.
