A tanker ship, with at least 25 people on board, has been attacked today as it passed through the Red Sea, according to the owner company, the Norwegian Inventor Chemical Tankers, after the British Navy alerted of two new “incidents” that have occurred near the Bab al Mandeb Strait. According to US officials cited by Reuters, the events took place in Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthi movement aligned with Iran.
The same sources have stated that the boat has been attacked by multiple projectiles. The ship, which is transporting vegetable oils and is heading to Reunion Island, was reportedly hit by an unidentified object, but none of the crew members were injured. However, the water tank has suffered damage, which has not prevented the rest of the boat’s systems from continuing to function normally.
The Houthis have attacked several ships in the Red Sea area in protest of the offensive launched by Israel in Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7. The movement assures that it is targeting vessels with links to Israel. However, the Norwegian company that suffered the latest attack denies that it has any relationship with the Middle Eastern country.
The trickle of incidents that maritime transport vessels are suffering in the area has led several conglomerates in the sector to abandon the Suez Canal route, through which 10% of the world’s maritime containers pass. This is the case of the Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd groups, which announced the temporary suspension of navigation through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea after several ships suffered attacks in recent days off the coast of Yemen. Other groups, including MSC and CMA CGM, also supported the decision. “We are diverting some services through the Cape of Good Hope, ensuring uninterrupted and safe operations,” said the shipping giant. The British oil company BP has been one of the last to join the measure, as well as several Chinese shipping companies -COSCO, OOCL and Evergreen Marine-.
The Suez Canal shipping route, which leads to the Red Sea, is a vital waterway for global trade, used to transport energy and other goods between Europe and Asia, and beyond. The route saves time and expense by avoiding having to navigate the entire African continent.
The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until Israel stops its offensive against Gaza, although they admitted that real measures to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip would help “de-escalate.” For its part, the United States is seeking a coalition to protect ships in the Red Sea and send a signal to the Houthis, who have also fired drones and missiles at Israel since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.