Houthi militants hit a United States-owned commercial vessel with an anti-ship ballistic missile on Jan 15, underscoring warnings that the world’s most important trade artery remains too risky for navigation.
The Gibraltar Eagle, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, was struck at about 4pm local time in the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said on social media platform X. No one was injured, and the vessel avoided significant damage and continued its journey.
The strike underscores warnings from the US, reported by a top industry trade group, that ships should steer clear of the Red Sea.
The Department of Transportation also issued a warning to US merchant ships on Jan 15, telling them to avoid the area until further notice.
US and British forces bombed targets in Yemen over the past several days following months of attacks on commercial ships by the Houthis, who had been targeting vessels with any kind of connection with Israel.
The Houthis took responsibility for the latest attack, and their spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement that they will target US and British vessels and warships. The attacks will continue as long as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, he said.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas – which controls Gaza and has been designated a terrorist group by the US and European Union – since its fighters killed 1,200 people in a raid on Oct 7.
The Houthis began their attacks in November, not long after Israeli forces moved into Gaza.
Eagle Bulk Shipping, operator of the Gibraltar Eagle, confirmed that the ship was hit by a projectile and sustained limited damage to a cargo hold before sailing from the area. It was carrying steel products.
The navigation warning, posted on LinkedIn by the world’s largest international shipping association Bimco, cited advice from the US Naval Forces Central Command.
It warned that the current instability could last for “some time”.
“Coalition forces and Bimco continue to recommend shipping companies to consider avoiding shipping operations in the area,” the trade group said.
The Yemen government criticised the Houthi attacks and called for the group to be designated a terrorist organisation, saying it is manipulating the plight of the Palestinians for its own agenda, Saba news agency reported on Jan 15.
The maritime industry had already been warned on Jan 12 to stay away from the region, but initial guidance suggested the pause might last for only three days.
That was echoed by the Department of Transportation’s own 72-hour warning on Jan 12, which became an indefinite one on Jan 15.
The attacks are driving up shipping costs as vessels avoiding the area are forced to sail thousands of miles further around Africa instead.
That has raised the spectre of a renewed wave of inflation, and means delays to the delivery of everything from commodities to manufactured goods.
Numerous shipowners have heeded the warnings, and gas tankers from Qatar are among the latest vessels that have seemingly been forced to take the long way around.
Denmark-based Bimco represents vessel owners and other shipping firms, counting 2,000 members in 130 countries.
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