The incident took place about 60 nautical miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to a US official. The US Navy ship Mason is said to have arrived at the scene. A spokesperson from the Houthi militia has confirmed that the rocket was theirs and that they have “conducted an operation” against Strinda. The spokesperson believes that they have also stopped several ships from passing in recent days. Rederi i Bergen Strinda is a chemical tanker owned by Bergen-based J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi. The ship is just over 144 meters long and just over 24 meters wide. – We were notified last night that Strinda had been hit by a rocket off Yemen, and that there had been a fire on board, says general manager Geir Belsnes at AJ Mowinckel’s shipping company to news. According to the general manager, the ship is receiving assistance and is on its way to a safe port. – What type of assistance? – I don’t think I can go into that, says Belsnes. Fire on board The US Central Command for the Middle East, East Africa and Central Asia also confirms the incident, and at the same time reports that the rocket was fired from the Houthi militia, according to Reuters. The attack happened around 4pm on Monday American time, i.e. 10pm Norwegian time. According to the main command, it is an anti-ship cruise missile. – Strinda reported injuries that led to a fire on board, but no one was injured or died at the time, it says. Israel warning The Houthi militia has gone after international shipping as part of a regional conflict stemming from the war between Hamas and Israel. On Saturday, the movement announced that all ships bound for Israel were targets, regardless of nationality. At the same time, the militia warned all shipping companies internationally against having anything to do with Israeli ports. According to Belsnes, the ship was on its way to Italy. – So it wasn’t on its way to Israel? – No, it wasn’t. According to the website Marine Traffic, it is on its way from the port of Tanjung Langsat in Malaysia to the Suez Canal.
ttn-69