The Israeli ports of Ashdod and Ashkelon have closed down temporarily following attacks on port infrastructure and surrounding facilities by rockets fired by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Gaza.
With several thousand rockets fired towards Tel Aviv, and despite Israel’s claim to intercept 90% of them before they reach their target, some struck the infrastructures of the ports in Ashdod and Ashkelon.
Amateur phone footage showed general cargo ship Mona (IMO 9101534) and Ahmet Onel (IMO 8420361) surviving narrow misses from rocket attacks.
Maritime security consultancy Dryad Global said that port and energy infrastructure were assessed to be proxy targets, but the ports were known to be part of the wider strategic intent of Hamas and the PIJ.
Dryad said that, although ports and offshore infrastructure remained at heightened risk, with attacks and associated damage a realistic possibility, it was assessed that there was no stated intent to target wider commercial shipping.
In a separate incident, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas, unsuccessfully attempted to attack Israeli offshore gas platforms using rockets.
As of May 17th Mona was still moored as Ashdod.
As of May 17th Ahmet Onel had moved to Ashdod Anchorage.
1995-built, Malta-flagged, 4,783 gt Mona is owned by Anomis Navigation Ltd care of manager Kamer Marine Denizcilik of Istanbul, Turkey. It is entered with Thomas Miller Specialty on behalf of Kamer Marine Denizcilik.
1987-built, Panama-flagged, 4,998 gt Ahmet Onel is owned by Ahmet Onel Shipping Ltd care of manager Marmara Islands Shipping Co of Istanbul, Turkey.