US MARAD Warns Ships of ‘multiple projectiles’ in Red Sea Region

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued an alert to U.S. commercial ships warning them of the threat of “Red Sea multiple projectiles” that have been launched from Yemen into the Red Sea region on October 19.

The U.S. authority issued an alert as there are reports that multiple drones and missiles were launched from Yemen into the Red Sea, MARAD reports.

The warning comes after a U.S. Navy warship intercepted earlier this month three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.

The advisory warns that there should be caution when transiting this area and commercial vessels should review the U.S maritime advisory.

The effective date of the alert is October 23 and it expires on October 30. MARAD’s full alert is posted in its website, and it is said that:

“There are reports that multiple drones and missiles were launched from Yemen into the Red Sea region on October 19, 2023. Exercise caution when transiting this area. U.S. commercial vessels operating in this area should review U.S. Maritime Advisory 2023-011 (Threats to Commercial Vessels – Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Somali Basin) for amplifying information and points of contact. This Alert will automatically expire on October 30, 2023. Any maritime industry questions regarding this alert should be directed to GMCC@uscg.mil.”

With tensions spiking in the Middle East, US forces in the region are facing increasing threats as a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel last week.

The Pentagon said the guided missile destroyer, USS Carney, operating in the Northern Red Sea, shot down three land-attack cruise missiles, and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.

This action by the Carney potentially represented the first shots by the US military in the defense of Israel in this conflict.

Earlier this year, the US Maritime Administration issued a revised advisory (2023-003) to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Somali Basin.

The advisory warned that regional conflict, military activity, and political tensions continue to pose threats to commercial vessels operating in these geographic areas.