Houthis Struck Vessel Carrying Highly Flammable Hydrogen With Missile, Attacks On Merchant Vessels In Region Continue

The Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda-owned motor vessel Marlin Luanda was hit by an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile while traveling through the Gulf of Aden carrying highly flammable liquid hydrogen.

GULF OF ADEN/SOMALIA - As attacks continue in the region, U.S. Central Command reported that the Houthis struck a vessel carrying a “highly flammable liquid hydrogen mixture” with an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, while the UKMTO reported a vessel 780 nautical miles east of Hafun, Somalia was approached more recently by a small vessel with armed men on board.

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A statement released by Central Command said that the Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda-owned motor vessel Marlin Luanda was hit by an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) while it was traveling through the Gulf of Aden, adding that it was transporting a highly flammable liquid hydrogen mixture when it was hit by the missile strike which caused a major fire onboard the vessel in one of its cargo holds.

The following vessels responded to the incident quickly, the statement said, providing critical firefighting material and assistance to the multinational civilian crew which had depleted their organic firefighting capability:

• USS Carney (DDG 64)

• French Navy Frigate FS Alsace (D656)

• Indian Navy Frigate INS Visakhapatnam (DD66)

The statement said that the multinational crew consisted of up to 22 Indian and 1 Bangladeshi crew member, who Central Command said were endangered by the Houthi ballistic missile attack on the vessel.

Due to the rapid response by American, Indian, and French naval forces, the fire has now been extinguished, and Central Command has stated that there were no casualties as a result of the ballistic missile attack on the vessel.

“These unlawful actions have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza. Neither the vessel nor its crew have any affiliation to Israel,” Central Command stated, adding “The Houthis have fired indiscriminately into the Red Sea, targeting vessels impacting over 40 countries around the world”.

Tranfigura Company Says It’s Assessing Risks Involved In Sending Vessels To The Region

Commodity trading company Trafigura says they are currently assessing the risk of sending vessels to the region.

A statement by the company said, “No further vessels operating on behalf of Trafigura are currently transiting the Gulf of Aden and we continue to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage, including in respect of security and safety of the crew, together with shipowners and customers”.

Merchant Vessel Approached Near Hafun, Somalia By Vessel With Armed Personnel Onboard, Fires Warning Shots