Over the last week, there have been five reported incidents of vessels being targeted while operating within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Dryad Global outlined in its latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory (MSTA), which was released late Tuesday.
“Reporting on Thursday … 15 and Friday 16 indicate that, following a brief hiatus, the Houthis returned to targeting commercial vessels,” Dryad said in the MSTA, adding that the Pollux vessel “was targeted by three attempted drone strikes whilst transiting southbound within the Gulf of Aden”.
“On Sunday the 18th the MV Rubymar was struck by a projectile thought to be an anti-ship missile, causing significant damage to the starboard side. Water ingresses caused the abandonment of the vessel. Twenty-four crew were rescued,” Dryad stated in the MSTA.
Dryad noted in the MSTA that the vessel continues afloat but added that it remains unclear whether it can be towed.
“Throughout the 19th February three incidents occurred involving vessels targeted. Notably the U.S. owned Sea Champion and latterly the U.S. owned Navis Fortuna were targeted by Houthi drones,” Dryad said in the MSTA.
“Further north, off coast Jizan, Saudi Arabia, a vessel reported being pursued by a drone. The geographic spread of attacks is considerable highlighting the continued capability of Houthi rebels,” Dryad added.
Dryad’s latest MSTA designates Yemen with a “critical” risk and impact rating and highlights several incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The only other countries with a critical rating in the MSTA are Ukraine and Syria.
In a statement posted on its X page on Tuesday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) noted that, on February 19, between 12.30pm and 1.50pm, “two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward M/V Sea Champion”.
“Minor damage and no injuries were reported. The ship continued toward its scheduled destination to deliver grain to Aden, Yemen,” it added.
“At 7.20pm, a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle struck the M/V Navis Fortuna, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned, bulk carrier causing minor damage and no injuries. The ship continued its voyage toward Italy,” it continued.
In a separate X statement on Monday, Centcom said, between 9.30pm and 10.45pm on February 18, “two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward MV Rubymar”.
“One of the missiles struck the vessel, causing damage. The ship issued a distress call and a coalition warship along with another merchant vessel responded to the call to assist the crew of the MV Rubymar. The crew was transported to a nearby port by the merchant vessel,” it added.
In another X statement posted on February 17, Centcom said “four anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea”.
“It is assessed that at least three of the missiles were launched towards commercial vessel MT Pollux … There were no reported injuries or damage from MT Pollux or any other ship in the area,” it added.
An opinion piece posted on Wood Mackenzie’s website on Monday, which was penned by the company’s Senior Research Analyst Emma Fox and Short Term Oils Research Director Mark Williams, stated that the Red Sea is critical to the global oil market.
“Wood Mackenzie’s Vessel Tracking, Crude Trade, and Refined Product Trade services show that an average 8.5 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined products use this route. However, the disruption around the Bab el-Mandeb strait looks set to persist, with over 20 percent of oil tanker trade now taking the long detour around the Cape of Good Hope,” the opinion piece added.
In a release posted on its website on Monday, the council of the European Union announced that it had launched EUNAVFOR Aspides. The objective of this defensive maritime security operation is to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf, the release stated.
“With the launch of EUNAVFOR Aspides, the European Union is responding swiftly to the necessity to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation in a highly strategic maritime corridor,” Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in the release.
“The operation will play a key role in safeguarding commercial and security interests, for the sake of the EU and the wider international community,” he added.
In a statement posted on the U.S. Department of Defense website in December 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, which he described at the time as “an important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea”.
“Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain, to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity,” he added at the time.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
What do you think? We’d love to hear from you, join the conversation on the Rigzone Energy Network.
The Rigzone Energy Network is a new social experience created for you and all energy professionals to Speak Up about our industry, share knowledge, connect with peers and industry insiders and engage in a professional community that will empower your career in energy.