Barran Press
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two separate incidents involving merchant ships off the coast of Yemen in less than five hours on Monday, August 26th, 2024.
The UKMTO, in a brief statement published on its official website at 4 pm, seen by "Barran Press", confirmed receiving a report of an incident 61 nautical miles southeast of the port of Mocha, west of Yemen. The statement mentioned that authorities are investigating the incident, without providing details on the nature of the attack, the target, or the authorities conducting the investigation.
Earlier, at 2 pm, the UKMTO issued a statement reporting a maritime incident 55 nautical miles southeast of Aden. The report indicated a small boat approaching at high speed on the starboard side of a ship (name not disclosed).
On August 23rd, the UKMTO reported three fires on a Greek-flagged tanker, a day after its crew was evacuated following an attack in the Red Sea.
The European naval mission, EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI (Irini), confirmed that fires had been burning on the Greek-flagged vessel “Sounion” since August 23rd, following an attack by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries.
In a statement on X, Irini stated that the fires are believed to be around the ship's oil tank hatches, with a portion of the upper structure also ablaze. The mission confirmed no clear indications of an oil spill yet and shared images of flames and smoke rising from the ship's deck.
Irini confirmed that the “Sounion” remains anchored in the same location in international waters, emphasizing that such attacks threaten not only freedom of navigation but also the lives of sailors, the environment, and all citizens living in the area.
Days earlier, Irini warned of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea after successfully evacuating the crew of a Greek oil tanker that suffered a series of Houthi attacks, approximately 77 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, resulting in the vessel running aground and its engines failing. The crew was evacuated without casualties.
The Houthis, who control the most populated areas of Yemen, claimed responsibility for attacking the “Sounion” in the Red Sea on Thursday. Irini confirmed that fires were observed in at least five locations on the ship's deck, with a part of the upper structure also ablaze.
The European mission, Irini, tasked with contributing to the protection of ships, successfully rescued the crew of the Greek vessel “Sounion” last Thursday after receiving a distress call from the captain.
Since November 2023, the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has launched missile and drone attacks against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and forced many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.
To deter the Houthis, the US-led “Operation Sentinel” coalition, which includes the UK as a key participant, launched airstrikes on Houthi positions in January 2024.