Yemen: Attempted Suicide Bomb Attack on Merchant Ship

Yemen’s civil war continued to escalate throughout 2016, carrying with it the potential to spill over into the shipping lanes of the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Almost two years of fighting have thought to have claimed around 10,000 lives. Neither the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels nor the Saudi-backed government forces have been able to gain the upper hand.

In October 2016 a commercial vessel chartered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels, was hit by a missile. Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shortly afterwards the USA reported that one of its guided missile destroyers had been targeted in a failed missile attack near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. The missiles were allegedly fired from territory controlled by Houthi forces. The Houthis denied any responsibility, but the United States responded with missile attacks on land based radar installations within rebel held territory.

Later in October, a number of unknown assailants attacked a Liquefied Natural Gas carrier (LNG) off the coast of Yemen. Maritime security sources report that the incident had occurred near Perim Island, 14 km from the southern Yemeni coast and close to a lighthouse used by ships navigating through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. An investigation carried out by the vessel’s owners concluded that the attack had been perpetrated by assailants firing small arms from a skiff heavily laden with explosives, which detonated 20m from the vessel. However, reports also indicate that the vessel was undamaged and no casualties were sustained. The tanker’s owner and a maritime security expert believe it may have been an attempted suicide attack

In mid-October, the U.S. State Department reiterated warnings that vessels in the region of the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden should operate under a heightened state of alert. In a Travel Warning it said there was a raised potential for direct or collateral damage to vessels transiting the region.

These attacks follow closely on the heels of U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Special Warning 134 that cautions vessels transiting the waters of the southern Red Sea, Bab el-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden of exactly this type of attack:

“Commercial vessels in the region of the red sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden should operate under a heightened state of alert as increasing tensions in the region escalate the potential for direct or collateral damage to vessels transiting the region. These threats may come from a variety of different sources such as missiles, projectiles or waterborne improvised explosive devices.”

What Precautions Can You Take?

Iran, which backs the Houthi forces, announced in late October that the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was important and should be respected by all sides.

There is no evidence that either side in the civil will target shipping, but fears remain that the situation could deteriorate or that fighting could unintentionally become a threat to commercial vessels.

Government agencies and security experts recommend that all ship owners with vessels operating in the region should adopt the following measures:

• Follow Best Management Practices (BMP 4) for Protection against Somali Based Piracy.
• Brief crew on the potential threats, including the weapons commonly used and damage that can be sustained.
• Regularly carry out emergency drills on security situations prior to entering the High Risk Area.
• Vessels should maintain the maximum safe speed and distance from the Yemeni coast.
• Transit the southern Red Sea within the TSS to the west of the Hanish Islands.
• Transit the area during day light hours.
• Watch keepers should remain vigilant at all times and any unusual activity, hostile or potentially hostile action should be reported to coalition naval vessels using on VHF channel 16 and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Dubai, by phone: +97 150 552 3215 or email: UKMTO@EIM.AE).

Further information can be found on our Maritime Threats and Incidents web page, Industry News articles and Yemen Information Sheet.

As the situation in Yemen is extremely volatile, owners and ship managers should liaise with local ship’s agents and P&I correspondents for the most up-to-date information prior to calling at Yemeni ports.