Incident on a ship in the South Red Sea triggers several disastrous events there and the event is not isolated, as reported by the USA
A Maersk container ship was hit by a missile in the Red Sea, triggering a series of tense events on Saturday. The US confirmed the attack, which occurred while the Maersk Hangzhou vessel was sailing in the southern Red Sea, near Yemen, according to the Gcaptain website.
The ship requested assistance and, hours later, was surrounded by Houthi boats. However, with the help of the US Navy and its own security team, the boarding attempt was averted. The USA responded to the incident, shooting down anti-ship ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi.
Safety and continuity on the ship
Following the incident, Maersk confirmed that the ship and crew are safe and seaworthy. The company highlighted that the safety of the crew is the highest priority and that they are working to determine all the details of what happened.
Recent updates indicate that Maersk Hangzhou was attacked for the second time by Houthi boats, but the financial security on board returned fire. US Navy helicopters intervened, sinking three boats and killing the crews. Maersk suspended transit through the Red Sea for 48 hours.
Attack on ship in the Red Sea is not the first
This incident comes at a time of rising tensions in the region, with frequent attacks on commercial ships by the Houthi. Maersk had resumed Red Sea transits with the Operation Prosperity Guardian naval coalition, but suspended travel following the recent attack.
Denmark announced the dispatch of a frigate to join the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. This incident is the Houthi's 23rd attack on international shipping since the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader aircraft carrier in November.
Impact on the industry
The incident has significant impact on the maritime route and the safety of ships transiting the Red Sea, according to the USA. Maersk had suspended transits in December, causing a redirection significant number of ships around the Cape of Good Hope.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and working to ensure security and stability in the region. The future developments of this incident are still uncertain, but international attention remains focused on the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.
