Connecticut-based dry trade operator Eagle Bulk Shipping has confirmed damage to one of its bulkers from “an unidentified projectile” earlier today and that there were no injuries to crew.
As TradeWinds has reported, the attack previously was confirmed by US Centcom and blamed on the Iran-backed Houthi militia group, which has engaged in a weeks-long campaign of attacks on commercial shipping and US naval vessels in the region.
Particularly since the vessel is owned by a US company, the attack will seen as a further escalation between the country’s military and the Yemen-based rebels.
“As a result of the impact, the vessel suffered limited damage to a cargo hold but is stable and is heading out of the area,” the Stamford company said on Monday in a prepared release.
“All seafarers onboard the vessel are confirmed to be uninjured. The vessel is carrying a cargo of steel products.”
New York-listed Eagle said its management “is in close contact with all relevant authorities concerning this matter.”
Eagle Bulk confirmed the damaged bulker is the 64,000-dwt ultramax Gibraltar Eagle (built 2015), which appears to have been underway from South Korea to the US.
Eagle said the attack came about 100 miles off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.
Indications are the Gibraltar Eagle reversed course as it was being struck to an easterly direction.
The ship originally was headed west, according to Signal Maritime data.
Gary Vogel-led Eagle Bulk owns 52 bulk carriers in the ultramax and supramax sizes, making it one of the world’s largest operators of midsize dry bulk tonnage.
The company is in the midst of an agreed $500m all-stock takeover by Greece’s Star Bulk Carriers, which is also a New York-listed owner.
The incident comes just days after combined US and UK forces carried out surgical bombing of Houthi-controlled sites within Yemen in retaliation for the attacks. The bombardment was meant to degrade the Houthis’ abilities to carry out further aggression.
It also comes one day after Houthis launched an anti-ship cruise missile towards an American destroyer in the Red Sea.
The Houthis claim to be attacking only ships affiliated with Israeli interests and trade, in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas group that is fighting the Israelis in Gaza.
The Houthis began their attacks on 19 November, when they hijacked the Ray Car Carriers’ 5,100-ceu Galaxy Leader (built 2002), which is still in their power, and carried out nearly 30 other drone or missile strikes against vessels since.
Most of these attacks occurred in the southern part of the Red Sea, which is in closer range to the west of Houthi-controlled ports and missile launching pads such as Hodeidah.
Since the UK and the US started bombing them in the early morning hours of 12 January, however, the Houthis seem to have switched the focus of their attacks to the Gulf of Aden, in waters south of the country and beyond Yemeni territory they do not control.
