A UK-owned cargo ship is reported to have suffered a fire in the latest Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden.
UK Maritime Trade Operations said the incident took place at 07:20 UTC on Thursday 70 nautical miles south-east of Aden.
Two missiles were said to have been fired at the vessel, with coalition forces responding.
Security company Africa Risk Compliance said a commercial vessel was hit by an aerial drone.
“The attack has caused a fire on board. Authorities are investigating the incident,” the company added.
Ambrey Analytics said the ship is a Palau-flag and UK-owned general cargo ship.
Its destination was showing as “Syrian crew on board”.
The ship appeared to be heading from Map Ta Phut, Thailand, for the Red Sea and Egypt.
The vessel has subsequently altered course by 90 degrees and was observed crossing the International Recommended Transit Corridor southbound, the company added.
It was reported later on Thursday that the ship sustained minor damage and the crew was safe.
The ship was proceeding to its next port of call.
The flag and voyage details match those of the 24,228-dwt open-hatch general cargo ship Islander (built 1996), owned by Gemstone Marine of Liberia and managed by African Express of Romania. Neither company could be contacted.
The IHS Markit database lists the “group owner” as Jaohar Group of the UK, which told TradeWinds it does not own any ships.
The company's website describes it as a broker and charterer.
A Greek-flag crude tanker sailing southbound had earlier been warned by UKMTO about a large number of drones flying in an area 34 nautical miles north of Hodeidah.
UKMTO had advised the ship to be on high alert.
A warship operating in the area issued an advisory to an Antigua & Barbados-flag general cargo ship to alter course due to precarious security conditions in the area.
The latest attack came as Houthi deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Ezzi told a local TV channel: “We once again reiterate that the Red Sea is absolutely safe. Only passage to ships linked to three parties, namely the US, Israel and Britain, are blocked.”
Al-Ezzi claimed 283 commercial ships had sailed in the Red Sea in safety this week.
He said this was despite claims by Washington that the waterway is unsafe.
“Unfortunately, shipping companies have been deceived by the US propaganda and reduced passage through the Red Sea because of US efforts to militarise the region,” he added.
