Home Green Marine MSC containership attacked in Red Sea in a Midst of Liners’ Gradual Return to Strategic Waters
December 27, 2023,
by
Jasmina Ovcina Mandra
The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)-owned Post Panamax containership, MSC United, fell victim to an attack while crossing the Red Sea.
Illustration; Image credit: MSC
Yemeni Armed Forces’ Spokesperson, Yahya Sare’e, confirmed the attack, stating that the ship was hit by naval missiles and pointing to the fact that the attack is part of a larger strategy. He underlined that the goal is to target all Israeli ships or the ones bound to the ports of occupied Palestine, and that a special attention is given to ensuring the continued safety of maritime traffic to all destinations, except for Israeli-bound ships.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm the continuation of their operations in the Red and Arab Seas against Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine until food and medicine enter the Gaza Strip,” the statement further reads.
Israel continues to relentlessly strike Gaza by air, despite the UN-led appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire.
UN chief António Guterres said that, following the adoption of a resolution to facilitate more aid into Gaza, over 20,000 Palestinians were reportedly killed, and 1.9 million people, 85 percent of the population, were forced to flee their homes.
Gaza’s health system is near collapse, clean water is scarce, and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of the looming famine threat, the UN warned.
“A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin to meet the desperate needs of people in Gaza and end their ongoing nightmare,” Guterres said.
MSC has confirmed the incident, adding that following the attack, the vessel informed a nearby coalition task force warship and, as instructed, took evasive maneuvers.
“The incident occurred on 26 December 2023 at approximately 12:25 UTC while the MSC vessel was enroute from King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia to Karachi, Pakistan,” MSC said.
“Currently, all crew are safe with no reported injuries and a thorough assessment of the vessel is being conducted.
“Our first priority remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope.”
The latest attack comes amid the deployment of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a multi-national security initiative that was launched to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Following the establishment of the operation, major industry players such as Maersk, CMA CGM, and COSCO have decided to partially resume transit through the Red Sea going both eastbound and westbound.
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Posted: 1 day ago
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“Some vessels have made the transit through the Red Sea.
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