– The first thing I know is that there are no injuries on board. That is the most important thing, says Øystein Elgan, day-to-day manager of Inventor Chemical Tankers. – Right now I am being escorted by the US Navy, said Elgan at 12.20. The Norwegian-owned M/V Swan Atlantic, which sails under the flag of the Cayman Islands, was targeted for a drone attack in the south of the Red Sea on Monday morning. The Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for the attack. 25 people were on board the Norwegian-owned tanker carrying biodiesel in the Red Sea. Photo: Daniel Antunez/Marine Traffic They also claim to be behind another attack that happened shortly afterwards, aimed at the ship MCS Clara. The Shipping Association: – Expect solutions According to the Shipping Association, there are at any given time around 40 Norwegian-affiliated ships in the area. – The attack underlines the further seriousness of the situation in the Red Sea, says Harald Solberg, managing director of the Shipping Association. Leader of the Norwegian Shipping Association Harald Solberg says the attack underlines the seriousness of the situation in the Red Sea. Photo: Hans Philip Hofgaard / news He foresees that several shipping companies will consider alternative routes in the future now that the situation in the Red Sea is so tense. According to Solberg, it will in all likelihood delay world trade. On Tuesday, the Norwegian Shipping Association and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will meet to discuss the situation in the Red Sea. – We expect both Norwegian and international governing powers to come together as quickly as possible on solutions to ensure safe passage for civilian ships. Harald Solberg follows the attack in the Red Sea. Photo: Hans Philip Hofgaard / news – No links to Israel Norwegian Inventor Chemical Tankers owns the tanker M/V Swan Atlantic. Reiarlaget has its head office in Bergen, and is owned by the investment company Rieber & Søn AS. Marine Traffic, on the other hand, stated on its website that the ship is operated by an Israeli-affiliated company. The head office of the management team is located in Bergen. Photo: Lars Christian Wallace / news But the investment company denies this and fears that the “misinformation” is the reason why the ship was attacked. The Houthi militia has since 7 October attacked civilian and military ships in the Red Sea, in solidarity with Hamas. The Houthis have made it difficult for shipping to proceed as usual in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Elgan also confirms that the company has no connections to Israel. – I have no connections to Israel. Neither on the owner’s nor the operator’s side. It wasn’t where I was going either, Elgan underlines. This is what it looks like outside the management team’s office in Bergen. Photo: Lars Christian Wallace / news Scout towards ship The other ship, MCS Clara, belongs to Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) which is part of the British Ministry of Defence. On its website, UKMTO writes that there were persons on board another vessel who fired shots at MCS Clara. None of those on board MCS Clara are injured, UKMTO told Reuters. The Norwegian-owned ship also escaped with minor damage and a destroyed water tank. Still considering the USA’s request – We are very concerned about the development in the Red Sea, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap). – Arbitrary attacks against civilian shipping are totally unacceptable. We are in dialogue with other countries and have close contact with the Norwegian Shipping Association and other relevant actors. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) says it is totally unacceptable that civilian ships are subjected to indiscriminate attacks. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news The USA recently asked Norway to contribute to an international operation to make it safer for civilian ships to travel in the Red Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs replies to news that they currently have nothing new to share, and that the request from the USA and the Norwegian Shipping Association is still under consideration. On 12 December, the chemical tanker Strinda, owned by the Bergen-based J. Ludwig Mowinckels Reiarlag, was hit by a missile off Yemen. Photo: AS J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi M/V Swan is not the first Norwegian-owned ship to be targeted by Houthi attacks. Last week the chemical tanker Strinda was hit by rockets. Stig Jarle, professor at NMBU, is not surprised by the attack. He calls them the Houthis’ weapon in the war against Israel. – The Houthis have made it clear that they were going to carry out such operations. I have expected something like this to happen, and I think it will get worse before it gets better. Stopping transport – can lead to price increases Several shipowners’ associations and companies have put shipping in the Red Sea on hold. On Monday, the oil giant BP does the same and explains it with the worsening security situation in the area. Equinor also says to DN that they are diverting their ships in the Red Sea. Sigvald Sveinbjørnsson, day-to-day manager of Maritime Bergen, is not surprised that so many saw transport on pause. – I note that many large container ships would rather go around Africa than sail through the Suez Canal, he says. The long detour can have consequences for the global economy. – If goods do not arrive or are delayed due to longer travel time, the consequence can be a sharp increase in the price of goods, services and fuel, he says. Ole Gunnar Askvik, professor of political economy, confirms that the situation in the Red Sea also affects the price of oil. – The Red Sea has less significance for the oil price than in the past. Most of the oil from the Persian Gulf now goes to Asia and not the United States, for example. The significance is therefore less than before, but it is noticeable. What could this mean for the oil price? – He is being pushed up a bit, but it is not necessarily dramatic.
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Norwegian-owned ship has been attacked in the Red Sea – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
