YANBU : A tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile around 63 nm west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, causing a fire on the main deck, according to a UKMTO warning.
Maritime security company Vanguard Tech said the vessel was Saudi-flagged and was hit by a missile, putting the incident at 90-100 nm west of Yanbu.
Security firm Ambrey said the ship issued a distress alert after the attack, and “following the distress alert, the Egyptian Navy was reported to have responded and was transiting to the area of interest to conduct a rescue operation.”
“All crew are safe and accounted for and no environmental impact has been reported,” said UKMTO.
No group has yet taken responsibility for the attack but the location and target align with recent Houthi activity, and Ambrey said it was aware of reports that the Houthi had launched an attack towards Saudi Arabia.
The Yemeni group announced a blockade of Saudi Arabian shipping on 20 July, and followed with multiple attacks on ships in the region, including the deadly attack on Tihamah earlier this month. The Houthi claimed responsibility for attacks on two tankers on 5 and 6 August, both had recently called at Saudi ports.
The Houthi blockade appears to have had some success in pressuring Saudi oil exports out of its Yanbu terminal. Volumes exported at the Red Sea terminal increased rapidly as the Iran conflict effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in March, restricting Saudi Arabia’s main export terminals in the Gulf.
DHT said earlier this month that most Red Sea oil exports were now transiting the Suez Canal, a route that adds significant distance and expense for deliveries to Asia.
JMIC‘s threat level for Bab el-Mandeb/Southern Red Sea remained at Substantial as of 23 August. “Based on the recent attacks, sustained intent, and maintained capability, additional attacks are a strong possibility, “ said JMIC.
