A loaded crude tanker was adrift in the Red Sea on Wednesday after being struck and damaged in the third Houthi attack targeting a vessel operated by Greece’s Delta Tankers this month.
The Delta Tankers-operated 163,759-dwt Sounion (built 2006) was damaged two hours after being approached by two small craft and attacked with small arms fire in the early hours of Wednesday.
None of the 25-strong crew were hurt when the ship was hit by three “unidentified projectiles” more than 70 nautical miles from the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, according to the Greek shipping ministry.
The third strike started a fire on board and the engine lost power, UK maritime security authorities in the region said.
The fire was understood to be short-lived and Delta Tankers said the ship had suffered minor damage.
“The crew and vessel are safe and unharmed,” it said in a statement.
“The vessel is currently adrift while the crew assess damage before the vessel will continue on its onward journey.”
The tanker was hauling 922,000 barrels of Iraqi crude loaded at the port of Al Basrah on 11 August and heading to the Greek port of Corinth, according to Kpler ship and cargo trading data.
The attack was the third on a ship connected to Delta Tankers this month, said Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group.
The 162,000-dwt Delta Atlantica (built 2011) was at the centre of a multi-pronged attack 63 nautical miles (117 km) south-west of Hodeidah, on 12 August.
The ship and its crew were reported safe after the onslaught, and the vessel was headed to its next destination.
Several days earlier, Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired grenades, missiles and air and sea drones in a string of attacks against the 158,000-dwt suezmax Delta Blue (built 2012), which included their first known use of a rocket-propelled grenade.
Four separate attacks were launched within 24 hours against the tanker but the ship was able to continue its journey and the crew was safe.
The company declined to comment on whether it would continue Red Sea transits in light of the latest attacks.
“Delta Tankers upholds safety and security as its highest priorities and maintains close communication with maritime security authorities,” it said.
“We are updated continually with all regular security advisories for shipping.”
On Sunday, US naval forces destroyed a Houthi aerial drone in Yemen. US Central Command said it was deemed to have presented “an imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region”. Several days before that the US Navy destroyed two Houthi sea drones in the area.
Meanwhile, UK Maritime Trade Operations 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.
