Tanker Attacked off Southern Yemen

According to Ambrey Intelligence, the tanker’s crew had spotted up to three floating objects described as barrels with lights in their vicinity around the time of the first detonation. The initial explosion punctured the hull, damaging the vessel’s port side ballast tanks and ruptured the cargo hose connected to the SPM. Crew took corrective actions and stabilised the vessel. At 0005 LT, a second object was observed floating 20m from the vessel’s port side, which exploded at 0050 LT causing no additional damage. A third object was reported to have “passed by”. The crew disconnected the cargo hose and departed the terminal. A localised oil spill was later visible on satellite imagery off Yemen’s Rudum district.

Ambrey Intelligence assessed that the incident, likely involving floating IEDs, sea mines or a limpet mine, was pre-meditated and intended to disrupt Yemeni government oil exports. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

A day after the incident, a ULCC which had just loaded at Ash Shihr – Yemen’s only other operational export facility – experienced an armed approach while on its outbound voyage from the terminal in the Gulf of Aden. Two black/green skiffs approached to within 200m of the tanker but withdrew after its embarked armed security team fired warning shots. The approach was possibly linked to a broader effort to disrupt Yemen’s oil exports.

Incidents involving mines on Yemen’s Gulf of Aden have been rare, with no public reports of de-mining operations since 2016. There have been several reports in recent years of the Houthis laying sea mines off Yemen’s Red Sea coastline in an attempt to target Saudi Coalition naval vessels. So far, these mines have not affected vessels in international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea, nor those calling into the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Saleef. However, mine alerts and incidents have been reported for nearshore areas stretching from Yemen’s maritime boundary with Saudi Arabia down to the port city of Mokha. BMP 5 also warns of the risk of tethered or anchored mines breaking free from moorings and drifting into shipping lanes. Vessels have been advised to use the MSTC in the Red Sea to help mitigate this risk.

Due to recent developments, members who are considering loading crude oil at either Ash Shihr or Bir Ali should conduct a comprehensive risk assessment prior to making contractual arrangements.

There are currently no indications that this heightened threat extends to Yemeni ports importing oil products, such as Nishtun, Mukalla, Aden and Hodeidah. However, the security and operating environment across Yemen remains volatile and members are encouraged to solicit up-to-date security advice prior to fixing calls at the country.

With thanks to Ambrey Intelligence for the information provided on this incident. https://ambrey.com/