Welcome to the Inchcape Red Sea Situation daily bulletin relating to the situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal for Wednesday, 3rd January.
Ambrey reports on 2nd January “A Malta-flagged container ship reported seeing three explosions towards its port quarter 15M southwest of Mocha, Yemen. The Master was heard over VHF calling for a coalition warship. A nearby vessel reported seeing a small boat, approximately 50 metres in length, and with two lights, within 1M of the incident location soon afterward. It was advised to treat this boat with caution as it might have been used to assist the targeting. Ambrey understood that three missiles were fired from the direction of Taiz Governorate, Yemen. The container ship had switched its AIS transmissions off on the 30th of December in the Indian Ocean and switched them back on following the event. At the time of the incident, the vessel was reportedly destined for Alexandria, Egypt. This was consistent with her listed service line: the Bosphorus Express. This service line did not include Israel. It was assessed this particular vessel was not Israel-affiliated, but other vessels in the operator’s fleet had regularly called Israel, and this affiliation might have been sufficient for her to be targeted. Merchant shipping was advised to maintain distance from the vessel in question. On the 3rd of January 2024, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack and named the same vessel. They asserted that it was headed “to the ports of occupied Palestine” (how they described Israel). This was assessed to be categorically untrue. It would have been known to the Houthis that this vessel was not headed to Israel through open-source research. Instead, it was assessed as highly likely that the Houthis targeted the vessel due to the operator’s continued operations in Israel.”
Ambrey Daily Incident report 27th December to 3rd January
- YEMEN, 03 JANUARY
A US Navy helicopter was observed in the Red Sea 63M west of Hodeidah, Yemen. The elevation was an estimated 1,000 ft. It was headed northwards, at a speed of approximately 91kts.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 02 JANUARY
A Malta-flagged container ship reported seeing three explosions towards its port quarter 15M southwest of Mocha, Yemen. The Master was heard over VHF calling for a coalition warship.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - YEMEN, 02 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged crude/oil products tanker reported seeing a military aircraft nearby Point A of the International Recommended Transit Corridor. No incident was reported.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 02 JANUARY
The Indian Navy was heard over VHF providing an escort to an India-flagged, Indian-owned chemical/products tanker, in the International Recommended Transit Corridor’s eastbound lane.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - SOMALIA, 02 JANUARY
A fishing vessel was reportedly hijacked offshore Qandala, Puntland, Somalia. This was at least the sixth reported hijacking of a dhow/fishing vessel offshore the semi-autonomous Somali State.
CRIME | EDR - YEMEN, 01 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged container ship reported hearing a warning message issued by Ansar Allah (the Houthis), while underway eastbound in the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, 53M southwest of Aden.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 01 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged crude/oil products tanker reported sighting a military aircraft 57M west of Hodeidah, Yemen, inside Eritrean waters.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 01 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged container ship reported a VHF exchange with the Indian Navy 72M west of Aden, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | APPROACH - ERITREA, 01 JANUARY
A Turkey-flagged, Turkish-owned crude oil tanker reported sighting an Indian Navy vessel 42M northwest of Assab, Eritrea.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 01 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil/products tanker received a radio transmission from an entity 74M southeast of Mukalla, Yemen. The entity claimed to be the Yemeni Naval Forces.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 31 DECEMBER
A Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned container ship, MAERSK HANGZHOU, reported being fired upon with small arms by four small boats while transiting through the southern Red Sea.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - YEMEN, 30 DECEMBER
A Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned container ship, MAERSK HANGZHOU, was struck by an aerial projectile while transiting through the southern Red Sea. The ship requested assistance from coalition forces.
WAR RISK | PHYSICAL DAMAGE - YEMEN, 30 DECEMBER
Ambrey has received information of an incident approximately 55M southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - SOMALIA, 30 DECEMBER
A dhow was reportedly hijacked offshore Hafun, Somalia. The dhow subsequently headed southwards, towards Galmudug. Ambrey advised there to be a heightened risk of hijacking of dhows offshore Puntland.
CRIME | EDR - YEMEN, 29 DECEMBER
A Liberia-flagged bulk carrier sighted a military aircraft while transiting the International Recommended Transit Corridor eastbound approximately 81.1M south of Mukalla, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 28 DECEMBER
A United Kingdom-flagged, Swedish-owned, tanker reported the likely interception of an aerial threat while exiting the Bab el-Mandeb northbound approximately 58.6M southwest of Hodeida, Yemen.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 28 DECEMBER
A Kuwait-flagged, Kuwaiti-owned, tanker observed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) hovering 300-400 metres above the water approximately 0.26M off the tanker’s starboard side while transiting the south.
WAR RISK | APPROACH - ERITREA, 28 DECEMBER
US Central Command stated that the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS MASON (DDG 87), intercepted one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and one anti-ship ballistic missile over the southern Red Sea.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - SOUTH AFRICA, 28 DECEMBER
A Liberia-flagged bulk carrier was boarded by stowaways while berthed at Duncan Dock, Cape Town. A private security provider and crew found the two Tanzanian nationals prior to departure.
CRIME | STOWAWAY - DISPUTED, 27 DECEMBER
A Thailand-flagged bulk carrier reported small boat activity while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb northbound approximately 10.6M southwest of Dhubab, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING
Suez Canal Transits
Suez Transits have continued at a much lower volume than usual, there will be 50 Suez Transits today, of which 30 were in the South Bound Convoy. This continues the 30% decline, but does indicate more vessels are arriving the area than leaving.
Yesterday, Inchcape Shipping Services announced investment in Leth Suez Transit Ltd. You can continue to contact issegypt@iss-shipping.com for immediate assistance or speak to one of our transit team specialists.
Cape of Good Hope Rerouting
Through World of Ports we now see several Container and Tanker vessels arriving in Mauritius. It does appear that Operators are bypassing South Africa and using Port Louis, Mauritius as their bunker call. There is congestion in South African ports due to bad weather and equipment failures. However, there is sufficient bunker capacity, although Inchcape local port agents report halted supply at Algoa Bay due to customs and regulatory disputes. Clarksons reports over 150 vessels have chosen to reroute to date, which will result in price increases, and increased demand for bunkers, crew logistics and husbandry. Typically, a Cape of Good Hope transit may add 9-14 days to a voyage length over a Suez Transit.
How can Inchcape Shipping Services help?
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@issshipping.com
South Africa: dbnops@issshipping.com
Kenya: isskenyaenquiries@iss-shipping.com
Tanzania: youriss.dar@issshipping.com
Nigeria: issnigeria@issshipping.com
Ghana: iss.ghana@iss-shipping.com
Mozambique: Yourissmozambique@issshipping.com
Namibia: wvbops@issshipping.com
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