A Maersk containership has actually been struck by a rocket in the Red Sea, the U.S. has actually reported.
The U.S. Central Command stated the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou reported it was struck by a rocket while transiting the Southern Red Sea at around 8:30 p.m. regional time on Saturday.
The ship asked for help and is stated to be “seaworthy” without any reported injuries. TheUSS GravelyandUSS Laboon reacted to the occurrence, with theUSS Gravelyeffectively shooting down 2 anti-ship ballistic rockets fired from Houthi-controlled locations in Yemen.
Maersk validated information of the occurrence in a declaration to gCaptain. The vessel was taking a trip through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait en path from Singapore to Port Suez, Egypt, when the team observed a “flash” on deck. The vessel and team are reported safe.
“At around 06:30 pm CET, when the vessel was 55nm southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the team reported having actually observed a flash on deck. There is no indicator of fire onboard the vessel, and we are presently working to determine the complete information of the occurrence. The vessel is totally maneuverable and continues the transit north,” the declaration stated.
“Ensuring the security of our team is our utmost concern, and all required security procedures are carried out to secure them,” the declaration included.
USS GRAVELY shoots down 2 anti-ship ballistic rockets while reacting to Houthi attack on merchant vessel.
Today at roughly 8:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU reported that they were struck by a rocket while transiting the Southern Red Sea. The … pic.twitter.com/nUgifhkdC8
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
The Maersk Hangzhou is a 14,000-capacity containership released on Maersk’s AE12-service in between Europe and Asia.
The occurrence comes has actually Maersk has actually been resuming transits through the Red Sea with the facility of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) marine union, while some other providers have decided to continue to reroute ships around the Cape of Good Hope due to security issues as the Iran-backed Houthis have actually continued to perform rocket attacks versus industrial shipping.
Maersk suspended transits through the Red Sea back on December 15 a day after a near-miss rocket attack on the Maersk Gibraltar near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The statement by Maersk resulted in other operators likewise suspending trips and rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope. Ever since about half of the containerships that usually transit the area have actually been rerouted.
Denmark on Friday stated it was sending out a frigate to sign up with Operation Prosperity Guardian.
The Central Command stated the occurrence the 23rd unlawful attack by the Houthis on worldwide shipping because the November 19 hijacking of the Galaxy Leader vehicle provider, which continues by be kept in Yemeni waters.
Complete Red Sea Coverage: Red Sea Shipping Attacks