Aden, Yemen – Reports of an explosion near a merchant vessel off the port of Aden in Yemen have raised concerns about maritime security in the region. The incident occurred in the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, about 53 nautical miles southwest of Aden. The targeted vessel, a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, was traveling from the US to India when it was attacked.
Both the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and British maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed the incident and reported that the vessel and its crew are safe. However, the specific cause of the explosion has not been determined yet. The vessel, identified as the bulk carrier Star Nasia by maritime monitoring service TankerTrackers.com, was carrying US coal at the time of the attack.
This explosion comes in the wake of recent Houthi attacks in the region. The Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for firing missiles at two ships in the Red Sea, including the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Nasia. The vessel, managed by Star Bulk Carrier, sustained damage but fortunately, none of the crew were injured in the explosion.
Greek shipping ministry officials have indicated that it is unclear whether the explosion was caused by a sea mine or a rocket. The ambiguity surrounding the nature of the attack raises concerns about the safety of maritime transit through the area and the potential impact on international trade. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region and the need for continued vigilance to protect merchant vessels and their crews.