A laden Teekay LNG ship was targeted by a skiff containing explosives, according to an investigation into the episode.
The 138,000-cbm Galicia Spirit (built 2004) was attacked 25 October off the coast of Yemen near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The initial report indicated the ship was fired upon, but there were no reports of casualties or damage to the vessel.
Security experts investigating the incident said the skiff which attacked the Galicia Spirit carried a "substantial amount of explosives." The investigators were not able to determine a motive for the attack, but the amount of explosives in the skiff "would have been sufficient to have caused significant damage to the vessel," according to a statement from Teekay.
The attack only involved small arms fire, the investigators determined, and not a rocket propelled grenade as originally reported. The investigators determined that when the skiff was approximately 20 metres (65 feet) from the vessel the explosives detonated, destroying the skiff and ending the attack.
The Galicia Spirit continued its transit under protection of a warship. Teekay said it is continuing to investigate the incident.
