Welcome to the Inchcape Red Sea Situation daily bulletin relating to the situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal for Friday, 19th January.
On Friday 26th January Inchcape Shipping Services, in partnership with Ambrey Risk Management, will deliver a webinar regarding risks and issues impacting Global Shipping in 2024. Ambrey will provide an update on global risks and threats, and Inchcape will offer considerations when planning voyages. Please register HERE.
Situation Update
US Centcom reported on X (formerly Twitter) “On Jan. 18 at approximately 9 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged, U.S.-Owned, Greek-operated tanker ship. The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship. There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship. The ship has continued underway.”
Suez Canal Transits
Today saw 44 Suez Transits. Since 1st January 2024, the daily average has stabilised around 50, but it is still significantly below average.
It would appear that the daily transits have stabilised at around the 50 a day or 55% of November levels. Container vessels has the biggest decline.
Mauritius and Cape of Good Hope
Conditions have improved in Port Louis, and services can be conducted in the Inner Port. There are currently 11 vessels in port, and 4 more are arriving in the next 24 hours.
As one of South Africa’s Ports, Durban remains busy with 40 vessels in the Port and 33 at berth, 14 of which arrived in the last 24 hours.
Ambrey iStream update 11-17th January
- YEMEN, 17 JANUARY
A Gabon-flagged, India-owned crude oil tanker performed unusual manoeuvres 47M southeast of Aden, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | UNUSUAL MANOEUVRES - YEMEN, 17 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 66M southeast of Aden, Yemen.
WAR RISK | PHYSICAL DAMAGE - YEMEN, 17 JANUARY
A Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned, tanker sighted an Indian Navy vessel while transiting the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) eastbound approximately 85M south of Mukalla, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 17 JANUARY
A Malta-flagged container ship reported an approach 10M southwest of Dhubab, Yemen. The vessel was overheard on VHF reporting an approach by three skiffs and one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 16 JANUARY
A possible Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was seen by a merchant vessel 138M southeast of Mukalla, Yemen. Merchant shipping is advised to exercise vigilance in the area. It is advised to minimise deck movement.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 16 JANUARY
An India-flagged crude oil tanker observed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) approximately 97M southeast off Mukalla, Yemen.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 16 JANUARY
A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned, bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound approximately 98M northwest of al-Saleef, Yemen.
WAR RISK | PHYSICAL DAMAGE - YEMEN, 16 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned, bulk carrier was approached by four skiffs while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait northbound approximately 13M west of Mokha, Yemen.
WAR RISK | APPROACH - ERITREA, 15 JANUARY
Ambrey received information of an incident approximately 57M northwest of Assab, Eritrea. A small boat was reportedly circling a merchant vessel.
WAR RISK | APPROACH - YEMEN, 15 JANUARY
Ambrey is aware of an incident approximately 103M southeast of Aden, Yemen. Ambrey is investigating and will revert with further updates.
WAR RISK | PHYSICAL DAMAGE - YEMEN, 15 JANUARY
A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned, bulk carrier reported a missile impacting the water 0.2M behind the vessel while transiting the Gulf of Aden westbound.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - SAUDI ARABIA, 15 JANUARY
A Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned, tanker sighted four military vessels while transiting the Red Sea southbound approximately 124.5M northwest of Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 14 JANUARY
US Central Command (Centcom) reported that an anti-ship cruise missile was fired towards the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS LABOON.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - YEMEN, 14 JANUARY
An Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, Indonesia-owned, general cargo ship sighted a blue-hulled boat while transiting the Gulf of Aden westbound, approximately 27.8M southeast of Perim Island, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 14 JANUARY
A Panama-flagged bulk carrier was approached by a small boat 4M east of Beilul, Eritrea and 40M west of Mocha, Yemen. The small boat reportedly called via VHF and threatened to ‘shoot.’
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - YEMEN, 14 JANUARY
A Liberia-flagged tanker sighted an Indian Navy vessel while transiting the International Recommended Transit Corridor westbound approximately 47M southeast of Aden, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 14 JANUARY
A Singapore-flagged bulk carrier sighted a skiff 55M southwest of Mukalla, Yemen. There were 9-10 persons on board the skiff which was moving at a speed of 17kts.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - SOMALIA, 13 JANUARY
A Norway-flagged, Norwegian-owned, tanker sighted three military vessels while in a holding pattern approximately 50M northeast of Djibouti.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - SOMALIA, 13 JANUARY
Ambrey received information of two Yemen-flagged fishing boats hijacked in Mareeyo, Somalia. Reports indicated the fishing boats were hijacked inside territorial waters, possibly while in anchorage
CRIME | EDR - YEMEN, 12 JANUARY
Ambrey is aware of an incident approximately 90M southeast of Aden, Yemen. Ambrey is investigating.
WAR RISK | SUSPICIOUS APPROACH - SAUDI ARABIA, 12 JANUARY
A Bahamas-flagged, Canadian-owned, tanker was contacted by a military vessel while in the southern Red Sea approximately 154M northwest of Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - DJIBOUTI, 12 JANUARY
A Norway-flagged, Norwegian-owned, tanker sighted an Indian Navy vessel while in a holding pattern approximately 47.8M northeast of Djibouti.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 12 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned, tanker turned by 180 degrees when transiting the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) westbound approximately 48.7M south of Aden, Yemen.
WAR RISK | BUSINESS INTERRUPTION - DJIBOUTI, 12 JANUARY
A Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier sighted a military vessel while exiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait southbound approximately 8.5M southeast of Perim Island, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - OMAN, 12 JANUARY
A Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned, container ship was approached by a high-speed craft while holding approximately 34.9M southwest of Salalah, Oman. 4-5 people were observed aboard the boat.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | APPROACH - ERITREA, 11 JANUARY
A Liberia-flagged bulk carrier reported hearing the sound of a missile being launched toward Yemen while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound approximately 49M west of Hodeida, Yemen.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - YEMEN, 11 JANUARY
At the time of writing, on the 11th of January, indications are that the US and UK could launch airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen the night of 11th – 12th of January 2024.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 11 JANUARY
A Norway-flagged, Norwegian-owned, bulk carrier sighted multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) while transiting the southern Red Sea southbound, the first UAV being sighted.
WAR RISK | SIGHTING - ERITREA, 11 JANUARY
A Hong-Kong-flagged bulk carrier sighted a military vessel while transiting the southern Red Sea southbound approximately 92.5M northwest of Hodeida, Yemen.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SIGHTING - OMAN, 11 JANUARY
Ambrey received information of an incident 50M east of Sohar, Oman. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity in the area.
WAR RISK | SEIZURE
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