A product tanker was attacked in the Red Sea on Sunday, heightening concerns about the safety of commercial shipping as hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify.
Maritime security company Vanguard Tech said the 73,976-dwt Chrystal Sky reported a series of explosions around the vessel at about 1650 UTC while sailing about 60 nautical miles south of Mokha, Yemen.
One of the explosions was within 100 meters of the starboard side of the tanker. It is not believed the vessel was damaged by the blast and it continued its voyage despite being close by.
The 2008-built Chrystal Sky, flagged in the Marshall Islands and operated by Singapore-headquartered Executive Ship Management, is a 2008-built ship. The tanker was on a voyage from Sikka, India, to Barcelona, traveling north at the time of the incident.
The latest incident follows a sharp increase in tensions across the region in recent days amid a government offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The leader of Yemen’s internationally recognized government has declared a total war, saying he would retake land held by the Houthis.
The escalation comes after a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi Aramco oil terminals and facilities along the Red Sea. The group also mounted an offensive last month that saw it seize control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, including the strategically vital Bab Al Mandab Strait.
The narrow waterway is a crucial maritime route that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Further deterioration of security is a huge concern for international shipping and energy flows through the region.
