Vessels sailing off Africa in the Indian Ocean should follow a course further east to avoid long-distance strike capabilities newly displayed by the Houthis, the European Union’s naval force said.
In guidance posted on social media at the weekend, EUNAVFOR suggested that merchant ships underway in the area “establish an alternative sea route no less than 150 nautical miles (280 km) east of the current traffic routes”.
The EU issued the warning following a Houthi drone strike this month against the 14,950-teu container ship MSC Orion (built 2020).
TradeWinds has already reported how the Houthi projectile caused minor damage to the MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel, in the first confirmed demonstration of the Yemeni rebels’ capability to strike far beyond the Gulf of Aden.
The ship was sailing 200 nautical miles southeast of the island of Socotra and more than 300 nautical miles from the Horn of Africa when it was attacked.
“This attack confirms that potential attacks can take place in the Indian Ocean up to 800 nautical miles from the areas under Houthi control in Yemen,” EUNAVFOR said.
In addition to suggesting a more eastern route, the EU force recommended implementing “random alterations in course and speed during NAVTRACKS, along with adopting a more restrictive AIS policy to minimise positional exposure”.
The Houthis have launched nearly 100 attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November.
Official Houthi policy is to target vessels they believe to be affiliated with the US, the UK and Israel or to be trading with Israel — to pressure the Israeli government to stop its military campaign against the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza.
The attacks, however, have become indiscriminate over time — whether by accident or design.
Most of them are stopped or miss their targets completely, although about a dozen vessels have been hit, with one of them sinking.
Carried out through drones, missiles, attempted boardings and one hijacking, the attacks have led to the death of three seafarers and 10 Houthi fighters, as well as the abduction of 25 crew members on the 5,100-ceu Galaxy Leader (built 2002).
