Shipping was put on alert Sunday over attack on a cargo ship off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea, the latest maritime attack off the conflict-torn country.
The incident occurred 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said the cargo vessel sent a distress alert saying they had been attacked by “unknown armed assailants” off the coast of Al Hudaydah.
UKMTO said authorities were investigating the incident.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” it added.
No group immediately claimed the attack.
The Iran-backed Houthis have threatened to begin attacking ships again, though they have not been carrying out attacks.
Pirates also have been active further away in the region recently.
Suspected pirates have attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf in Yemen on July 1. Four armed men on a small craft caused damage to the bridge and several adjacent compartments, according to the UKMTO.
All seafarers on board the vessel are reported to be safe following an “illegal boarding” off Yemen.
Crew members mustered in the citadel after their vessel was approached by the small craft, which was carrying four pirates armed with a rocket-propelled grenade.
UKMTO also received a report on July 1 of an incident 85 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen. The master of a tanker said a small craft approached the vessel on the port quarter at two nautical miles. The small craft left the vicinity, proceeding south. The crew were reported as safe and the tanker continued its voyage. The incident remains under investigation.
