Merry Christmas Anons
Maritime site confirms
Israeli-Linked Ship Struck By Drone in Arabian Sea
Reuters December 23, 2023
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (Reuters) – An Israel-affiliated merchant vessel was struck by an uncrewed aerial vehicle off India’s west coast, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Saturday, in the first such known attack so far away from the Red Sea since the Gaza war.
A fire on the Liberian-flagged tanker was extinguished without crew casualties in the incident 200 km (120 miles) southwest of the Indian city of Veraval, it said, adding some “structural damage was also reported and some water was taken onboard.”
“Merchant vessels are advised these types of attacks are typically targeted at Israel-affiliated shipping, but have in the past mistakenly hit previously Israel-affiliated vessels,” Ambrey said. “This event fell within Ambrey’s Iranian UAV heightened threat area.”
UKMTO WARNING 018/DEC/2023
ATTACK – INCIDENT 018 UPDATE 01
UKMTO have received a report of an attack by Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) on a vessel causing an explosion and fire. https://t.co/qFzIsjDvnj#MaritimeSecurity #marsec pic.twitter.com/gBARms8K9T
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) December 23, 2023
An Indian Navy official told Reuters that it responded to a request for assistance on Saturday morning.
“The safety of crew and ship has been ascertained. The Navy has also dispatched a warship to arrive in the area and provide assistance as required,” the official said, declining to be named as he was not authorized to discuss the incident.
Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake, identified the tanker as MV Chem Pluto carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia. Citing Indian defense sources, ANI said the tanker had around 20 Indians on board.
A Reuters tracker showed the ship was headed towards the Port of Mangalore in India’s south.
The hit on the vessel follows drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthis, who say they are supporting Palestinians under siege by Israel in the Gaza Strip, on commercial shipping, forcing shippers to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
https://gcaptain.com/israeli-linked-ship-struck-by-drone-in-arabian-sea/
Always notable. Always