A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) exploded near a Delta Tankers-owned suezmax and the Houthis claimed to have targeted a Contships Management vessel, ending a lull in attacks off Yemen that lasted just five days.
The Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations said that the master of Delta’s 158,000-dwt Delta Blue (built 2012) reported an explosion on Thursday while the vessel was 45 nautical miles (83 km) south of Mocha, a Yemeni port also known as Al Mukha.
The RPG exploded “in close proximity” to the vessel.
It was apparently fired from one of two small boats, each with four people on board.
The Delta Blue and its crew are safe, and the tanker is heading to its next port of call, UKMTO said.
“The persons on board the small craft are reported to be wearing white and yellow raincoats,” the agency said.
“Authorities are investigating,” UKMTO said on X. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
Maritime security firm Diaplous said the attack occurred near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Athens-based Delta Tankers could not be immediately reached for confirmation of the incident.
The Delta Blue flies the Liberian flag and is insured by Norway’s Gard, according to Clarksons. Its most recent location signal was reported three days ago off Oman heading toward the Gulf of Aden with a cargo from the Middle East Gulf, with Greece as its stated destination.
Meanwhile, the Houthi armed forces said on Thursday that it targeted the 1,118-teu Contship Ono (built 2007) with ballistic missiles and drones, according to a computer translation of an official statement.
“The hit was accurate,” the group said.
The Houthis said the ship was in the Red Sea and targeted because its owner violated a ban on entering ports in Israel.
But tracking data from VesselsValue shows the ship, which is controlled by Greece’s Contships Management, is currently in Saudi Arabia’s port of Jeddah.
“The vessel and its crew are safe and there has been no incident affecting its operations,” the Athens-company said in a statement to Reuters.
The Contship Ono sails in the fleet of Dubai-based Aladin Express, a regional liner operator.
The Houthis also claimed to have fired drones at the USS Cole and ballistic missiles at the USS Laboon — two US destroyers.
Earlier in the day, US Central Command said military forces destroyed two drones, a ground-control station and three anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
“These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” Central Command said on X.
“This reckless and dangerous behaviour by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.”
The day’s attacks were the first reported on a merchant ship since 3 August, when the 2,500-teu Groton (built 2002) was fired on in multiple assaults.
The attack on that container ship — which is in the fleet of Conbulk Shipmanagement and chartered to CMA CGM — was the first Houthi attack in two weeks.
