According to UKMTO reports, the first attack occurred when a
vessel was struck by two unknown projectiles around 70 nautical miles northwest
of Saleef, Yemen. A third explosion was reported close to the vessel, and no
casualties were suffered during the attack.
“Damage control is underway,” the report stated.
Media reports claim the vessel was Blue Lagoon I, a
Panama-flagged shuttle tanker, and the projectiles have since been confirmed as
missiles.
In a separate incident a ship was hit by an Uncrewed Aerial
System 58 nautical miles west of Al Hudaydah, according to the master’s report
to UKMTO.
Both ships reported that they were proceeding to their next
ports of call.
The attacks come as tanker Sounion remains ablaze
off Yemen. The ship was attacked by Houthis on August 21 and has been on
fire since August 23 when Houthi forces boarded the ship and planted
remotely-detonated explosives across its deck.
The Houthis, who claimed responsibility for the initial
attack and recorded the subsequent boarding and remote detonation of
explosives, have given their approval for salvors to approach the stricken
tanker. Sounion is carrying around a million barrels of crude oil,
and poses a significant risk to navigation and the environment.
