UK authorities have identified a Delta Tankers ship as the target of one of the latest attacks on navigation by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also named a product carrier managed by Anglo-Eastern as the vessel in the vicinity of another explosion in the Red Sea.
The Royal Navy agency said the 162,000-dwt Delta Atlantica (built 2011) was the vessel at the centre of a multi-pronged attack 63 nautical miles (117 km) south-west of the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea.
As TradeWinds reported earlier on Tuesday, the ship’s master reported an explosion late Monday. In the early hours of Tuesday, the tanker then reported that a small craft was seen closing in before a second explosion was felt.
The suezmax then came under attack again by a sea drone, which the agency said was successfully disabled.
The Delta Atlantica and its crew were reported safe after the onslaught, and the ship was headed to its next destination.
The Liberian-flag crude tanker is managed by Delta Tankers and owned by a single-ship company at the same address in Greece, according to Equasis. It has insurance from Norway’s Gard, the Clarksons database shows.
On the same day, US Central Command said it destroyed two Houthi vessels in the Red Sea, although it did not say whether it had any connection to the Delta Atlantica incident.
“These vessels presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” said the command, which coordinates US military forces in the region.
“This reckless and dangerous behaviour by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.”
The 158,000-dwt suezmax Delta Blue (built 2012) was attacked with grenades, missiles and drones on Thursday.
Meanwhile, UKMTO said the 115,000-dwt ON Phoenix (built 2021) was the tanker that reported another Houthi attack.
TradeWinds reported earlier on Tuesday that the LR2 reported an explosion in its vicinity in the early hours of Tuesday while it was 97 nautical miles north-west of Hodeidah. It continued on with both the vessel and its crew safe.
Equasis data shows that the ON Phoenix is owned by Dubai trader and operator ONEX DMCC.
The Panamanian-flagged ship is managed by Hong Kong’s Anglo-Eastern and has insurance from Gard.
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