Welcome to the Inchcape Red Sea Situation bulletin relating to the situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal for Friday, 1st March. As of next week we will move to weekly bulletins published on Friday.
Situation Update
On Thursday, 29th February US Centcom reported on X (formerly Twitter), “between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two self-defence strikes against six mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. Earlier that evening, at approximately 5:10 p.m. (Sanna time), CENTCOM forces shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the southern Red Sea in self-defence.”
As was widely reported on Tuesday 27th February “between the hours of 9:50p.m. and 10:55 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down five Iranian-backed Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the Red Sea.”
Suez Canal Transits
Today, there were 33 Suez Canal transits. The daily average is slightly under 39, slowly edging higher.
Ambrey iStream Bulletin 20th-27th February
- ERITREA, 27 FEBRUARY
Ambrey is aware of an incident approximately 51M west of Hodeidah, Yemen. A merchant vessel reported that a warship was “firing”. There were two warships to her port.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 27 FEBRUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier reported sighting a missile fall into the water at a distance of 3M from the bow while underway 63M northwest of Hodeidah, Yemen.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - SAUDI ARABIA, 27 FEBRUARY
A merchant vessel reported an approach. The vessel reported sighting three small, dark, boats with two people onboard each. The small boats followed for 1 hour at a distance of 1M.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY | APPROACH - SAUDI ARABIA, 26 FEBRUARY
A RO-RO cargo ship saw the US aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER in the Red Sea 137M northwest of Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 26 FEBRUARY
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that they destroyed Houthi military equipment prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. US CENTCOM stated that they “destroyed three unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - INTERNATIONAL, 26 FEBRUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged tanker reported an approach from a fishing vessel approximately 295 nautical miles south-southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | APPROACH - YEMEN, 26 FEBRUARY
A Liberia-flagged, Turkish-owned bulk carrier was asked to publicly share sensitive information 8M south of the International Recommended Transit Corridor’s (IRTC’s) Point Bravo.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | APPROACH - YEMEN, 26 FEBRUARY
A Panama-flagged tanker reported hearing a warning message over VHF Channel 16 while underway in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) 113M southeast of Aden, Yemen.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - OMAN, 26 FEBRUARY
A Liberia-flagged bulk carrier reported sighting a war ship approximately 105 nautical miles south of Salalah, Oman. Ambrey assessed this sighting was not suspicious.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 25 FEBRUARY
A merchant vessel reported an approach approximately 20M east of Khor Fakkan, UAE. A small, white, open-topped, boat with one outboard motor was seen and approached from the northeast.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY | APPROACH - YEMEN, 24 FEBRUARY
Ambrey received information of an incident 70M east of Djibouti. An Indian warship was in the vicinity, heading in the direction of the location of interest.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - YEMEN, 24 FEBRUARY
US Central Command published an interception by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS MASON in the Gulf of Aden. The US stated that an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi-controlled area
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - ERITREA, 24 FEBRUARY
A Singapore-owned bulk carrier reported seeing a warship while underway 27M north of Assab, Eritrea. The warship was located on the Eritrean and Yemeni maritime boundary, 3M to port.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - OMAN, 23 FEBRUARY
A Malta-flagged, Greece-owned, bulk carrier reported small boat activity while drifting in the Arabian Sea approximately 178M west of Ras al Hadd, Oman.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - INTERNATIONAL, 23 FEBRUARY
A Djibouti-flagged standby safety vessel reported small boat activity approximately 560M east of Socotra Island, Yemen. Two light green-hulled dhows were observed sailing westbound at 5.2kn.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 22 FEBRUARY
A Palau-flagged, UK-owned general cargo ship was reportedly targeted with two missiles approximately 63M southeast of Aden, Yemen. The vessel’s AIS destination was “SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD”.
WAR RISK | PHYSICAL DAMAGE - YEMEN, 21 FEBRUARY
A Cyprus-flagged tanker reported an approach approximately 57M southwest of Aden, Yemen. A fishing vessel approached the vessel to within 1M.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | APPROACH - SOMALIA, 21 FEBRUARY
A Palau-flagged general cargo ship slowed to drifting 58M north-northeast of Boosaaso, Somalia. The vessel was publicly listed as UK-controlled. Her AIS destination was “SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD”.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY | DRIFTING/SLOWED - SOMALIA, 21 FEBRUARY
Ambrey has noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ BEHSHAD appears to have reset her position 52M offshore northwest of Berbera, Somalia.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 21 FEBRUARY
Ambrey received reports of heightened unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activity 40NM to the west of Hodeidah, Yemen. Masters were advised to remain cautious, reduce bridge manning.
WAR RISK | APPROACH
Algeciras and Gibraltar
Today Algeciras was less busy with 47 vessels at berth and 72 in port. A further11 are at Anchorage. 38 vessels departed in the last 24 hours, 43 have arrived and a further 14 are expected in the next 24 hours. For enquiries, please contact email issalgecirasops@iss-shipping.com, tel +34 956 022 570.
At Gibraltor there are vessels at 18 of the 17 available berths and 37 vessels in port. 7 vessels are arriving in the next 24 hours, and 23 departed in the last 24 hours. We are seeing congestion at Gibraltar with TRT is around 24hrs, many clients are opting to change stem to Algeciras where the situation is more fluid delays there around 8hrs.To contact email issgibraltar@iss-shipping.com, tel +350 20072685.
How can Inchcape Shipping Services help?
As mentioned in previous posts Inchcape Shipping Services announced investment in Leth Agencies. For more information please read the press release. You can continue to contact issegypt@iss-shipping.com for immediate assistance or visit our network for more information.
In addition to Algeciras and Gibraltar, Inchcape Shipping Services is well established in Africa when considering to divert around the Cape of Good Hope. With 14 port offices and a network of carefully selected and vetted partners, our team of experienced agents offer top-notch support and expertise to vessels when they are in port, covering everything from crew welfare and customs formalities to fuel supply and waste management.
We provide:
- 24/7 availability with a local Inchcape representative.
- Direct liaison with the vessel on all aspects of the call when required.
- Critical local expertise and liaison with managing local authorities.
- Assist with crew logistics, including transport to and from the airport, accommodation, and medical assistance.
- Coordination and facilitation of bunker supplies, supervision and sampling.
Our team are ready to support you in Africa and Mauritius. Please contact us for a prompt PDA on these email addresses:
Mauritius: mruops@iss-shipping.com
South Africa: dbnops@iss-shipping.com
Kenya: isskenyaenquiries@iss-shipping.com
Tanzania: youriss.dar@iss-shipping.com
Nigeria: issnigeria@iss-shipping.com
Ghana: iss.ghana@iss-shipping.com
Mozambique: Yourissmozambique@iss-shipping.com
Namibia: wvbops@iss-shipping.com
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