Merchant Ship Off Saudi Coast Reports “Significant Explosion” A “Short Distance” From Port Side

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports a commercial vessel experienced a “significant explosion … a short distance from the port side of the vessel.” The incident occurred 50 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the southern Red Sea. 

“On inspection, no damage was found, vessel and crew are reported safe and is continuing to its next port of call,” UKMTO wrote in an advisory on X. 

Bloomberg said, “There was no immediate claim for the blast but Houthi fighters based in Yemen have carried out multiple attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and have escalated such incidents since the Israel-Hamas war broke out last October.” 

The Houthi’s latest attack was on a bulk carrier last week near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Also, the Houthis have downed six US MQ-9 Reaper drones.

The ongoing chaos in the Red Sea comes as the Iranian-backed terror group vowed it will continue its operations until the war in Gaza is brought to an end. 

One significant consequence of turmoil in the region is soaring containerized freight costs as capacity is stretched thin worldwide. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S warned about this on Tuesday.

*Developing…