Tanker Ablaze Near Yemen After Unexplained Explosion

(Bloomberg) — A Cameroon-flagged tanker ship caught fire after an explosion off the coast of Yemen; two crew members were missing; This signaled that the risk to shipping remains even as the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza continues.

According to EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the EU’s military operation in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf, MV Falcon was sailing 113 nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden. An estimated 15% of the ship is currently on fire and there is a risk of further explosions.

UKMTO, which acts as a liaison between the Navy and commercial ships, said it had received reports that the ship had been hit by an unknown shell, but later added that it could not confirm the source of the explosion and could not rule out an accident on board.

UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey said the tanker was heading to Djibouti from Sohar, Oman, and was not considered to be “linked to the Houthi target profile”.

The tanker was listed in 2022 by the US-based United Against Nuclear Iran advocacy group as being involved in sanctions evasion activities, Ambrey said in a statement.

Ambrey said he received a distress call after the explosion on the ship and was aware of the crew’s intention to abandon ship.

The liquefied petroleum gas tanker Falcon is currently in the Gulf of Aden, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg.

EUNAVFOR ASPIDES said it took immediate action to save all crew members, 24 of whom were picked up by passing ships and two were missing. The EU operation said all but one of the crew were Indian and the last member was Ukrainian.

Iran-backed Houthi militias operating out of Yemen have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, disrupting trade in the vital waterway in a bid to pressure Israel to end its war in Gaza.

The group stopped its attacks during the initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in March, but resumed after negotiations failed and war in the region resumed. There was no claim of responsibility from the Houthis for Saturday’s incident.

–With help from Ruth Liao and Rakteem Katakey.

(Updates with new UKMTO statement from first paragraph)

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