Products tanker Chrystal Sky (IMO 9334569) reported several explosions when it was around 60nm south of Al Mukha (aka Mokha), Yemen on Sunday October 4th. One explosion occurred in the air around 100 metres off the vessel’s starboard side. UKMTO said the crew was safe, with no environmental impact reported, while the tanker continued its voyage.
It was the latest in a string of strikes widely attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebel group. The militia had not yet claimed responsibility for the attempted strike.
At about 16:50 UTC on Sunday the company security officer for a vessel operator informed UKMTO that a tanker’s crew had spotted “multiple explosions in close proximity to the vessel.”
The attempted strike followed just hours after the Yemeni government publicly announced the launch of a major military operation targeting Houthi positions, with active support from Saudi forces.