Cyprus shipowner Pelagic Partners is taking a vigilant approach to Red Sea transits after a Houthi assault on a tanker near one of its own ships.
Managing director and co-founder Atef Abou Merhi told TradeWinds that the company’s 73,400-dwt LR1 tanker Pelagic Turbot (built 2009) was sailing southbound on 13 December when the 49,500-dwt MR Ardmore Encounter (built 2014) was attacked just 3.5 nautical miles (6.6 km) away.
The Pelagic vessel increased to full speed southbound and “thankfully all crew were safe and no damages reported”, Merhi said.
“Ever since, we have been keeping very close communication with commercial operators/technical managers and crew on board with regards to actions to be taken for Red Sea passage,” he added.
The company’s Red Sea exposure is mainly in tanker trades, as its other dry cargo and offshore vessels are employed in the US Gulf and the North Sea.
The Pelagic Turbot is one of two LR1s in the fleet, and there are also two MR2s.
“We sincerely hope the attacks on vessels [and] crew in specific and general situation in the whole region will somehow stabilise sooner rather than later,” Merhi said.
Ireland-based Ardmore Shipping confirmed that its tanker had come under attack while transiting the Red Sea, but said no one was hurt and the Ardmore Encounter sustained no damage.
Maritime security firm Diaplous said armed gunmen on a speedboat approached the vessel after its crew refused to comply with Yemeni calls to change its northbound course.
Up to 10 bullets were fired at the ship, from a distance of 300 metres. When it continued on its course under the protection and instructions of a nearby warship, Yemeni forces fired two missiles at it.
“One missile was reportedly intercepted, while the second exploded approximately 200 yards from the tanker’s stern,” Diaplous said.
