A bulker owned by Greece’s Reefer & General has reported an explosion in the Red Sea, ending a lull in Houthi attacks against shipping that lasted more than two weeks.
The Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations said the master of the 82,950-dwt Motaro (built 2006) reported three explosions near the vessel.
“The vessel and all crew are reported as safe,” the agency said. “Authorities are investigating.”
The first explosion took place at 14:35 GMT while the ship was 25 nautical miles (46 km) south of Al Mukha, a Yemeni city also known as Mocha.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that the attack involved “a number of ballistic missiles” targeted at the vessel.
“The strikes were accurate and direct,” he said.
Maritime security firm Diaplous said the Motaro was sailing southbound with its location transponder turned off.
The attack took place over two hours, with two of the missiles landing in proximity.
The ship is proceeding to its next port of call.
The Liberia-flagged Motaro is classed by Italy’s Rina and has insurance from the Swedish Club.
Saree claimed that the Houthis attacked two AP Moller-Maersk-operated container ships in the Arabian Sea, but these incidents were not confirmed by authorities.
Maersk spokesman Povl Rasmussen said neither of the two chartered vessels reported being attacked.
Claims by the Iranian-backed militant group of attacks beyond the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden often prove unfounded.
The Houthi spokesman said the group targeted the 2,478-teu SC Montreal (built 2004) with two drones.
The ship is controlled by Conbulk Shipping of Greece, according to Equasis.
Flagged in Liberia, the container ship is classed by DNV.
And Saree said the Houthis attacked the 7,846-teu Maersk Kowloon (built 2005) with a cruise missile.
The ship is owned by Greece’s Costamare.
Reached by TradeWinds, chief financial officer Gregory Zikos said that nothing has happened to the vessel.
The claim came 10 days after the militant group claimed to have attached the 4,957-teu Megalopolis (built 2013) off Oman, but nothing happened in that incident either.
Both boxships have insurance from the Swedish Club.
This article has been amended since publication to reflect that the SC Montreal is owned by Conbulk Shipping of Greece.
