Following an attack on Wednesday, the first for two weeks, the Houthis have continued with an attack on Thursday and a strike on Friday.
On Thursday April 25th the Iran-aligned group, which controls a significant part of Yemen, launched an attack on container ship MSC Darwin VI (IMO 9200689) in the Gulf of Aden. A Houthi spokesperson claimed the vessel was targeted by a number of missiles and drones, but neither the vessel nor any of the crew were harmed. UKMTO said that the captain of the vessel reported hearing a loud bang and witnessing splash and smoke coming from the sea approximately 15nm southwest of Yemen Port in Aden.
The 6,078 teu MSC Darwin VI continued sailing and reached its intended destination of Djibouti.
EOS Risk Group’s head of advisory Martin Kelly noted the MSC Darwin VI “ticked several boxes from a Houthi targeting perspective” as being controlled by US Military Sea Lift Command.
Then on Friday the Houthis struck again, with a greater degree of success. Crude oil tanker Andromeda Star (IMO 9402471)was damaged in a missile attack by Houthis about 15nm south-west of the Yemeni city of Mocha.
UKMTO reported that a Panama-flagged ship had been struck twice and suffered damage. UK-based risk management firm Ambrey said that three missiles had been sighted.
US CENTCOM confirmed that Andromeda Star was the ship in question, adding that it had suffered minor damage and was continuing its voyage. No crew were hurt, according to reports.
The UKMTO said that the first missile attack caused an explosion near to the ship and was felt by those aboard. The second – thought to involve two missiles made contact. It added that ballistic missiles had reportedly been fired from Yemen’s south-western Taiz governate.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Saturday that a “British” ship called the Andromeda Star had been targeted, resulting in a “direct hit”.
Ambrey reported that the tanker in question was owned by the UK until November 2023. However, its current owner is Seychelles-registered and, according to Ambrey, the vessel was engaged in Russia-linked trade – travelling from the Russia town of Primorsk to Vadinar, in the Indian state of Gujarat, when the attack happened.
Equasis lists the ship as being called the Fulmar from October 2019 to November 2023, when it was renamed the Andromeda Star. UML Abbey Ltd sold the vessel to Algae Marine last November, resulting in a change of manager and ISM manager.
Ambrey advised ship owners and operators to carry out a “thorough affiliation check” before transiting the area “as the Houthis may associate vessels with out-of-date affiliations”.
1999-built, Liberia-flagged, 66,278 gt MSC Darwin VI is owned by Darwin Oceanway Ltd care of MSC Shipmanagement Ltd of Limassol, Cyprus. The International Group lists it as entered with four clubs: Steamship Mutual, UK Club, NorthStandard, and Britannia, the first three on behalf of Multi Container management SA, the fourth on behalf of Darwin Oceanway Ltd. As of Paril 27th it was moored at Djibouti, having left Aden, Yemen on April 25th.
2009-built, Panama-flagged, 63,294 gt Andromeda Star is listed by Equasis as owned by and managed by Algae Marine Inc of Mahe, Seychelles. ISM manager is Margao Marine Solutions OPC of Goa, India. As of April 26th the vessel was heading south, listing its destination as “India No Connection With Israel”.