Home Green Marine MSC containership attacked in Red Sea amid liners’ gradual return to strategic waters
December 27, 2023,
by
Jasmina Ovcina Mandra
WOW!MSC United, a Post Panamax containership owned by Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was attacked while transiting the Red Sea.
Illustration; Image credit: MSC
The attack was confirmed by the Yemeni Armed Forces’ Spokesperson Yahya Sare’e, saying that the ship was targeted by naval missiles. The statement reiterated that the attack is part of the strategy of targeting ‘all Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, with their full concern for the continuation of safe maritime traffic to all destinations except the Israeli’.
“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 the food and medicine enter to Gaza Strip,” the statement further reads.
Israel continues to pound Gaza with air strikes despite UN-led calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on December 22, following the adoption of a resolution to get more aid into Gaza, that more than 20,000 Palestinians were reportedly killed and 1.9 million people, 85 percent of the population, forced to flee their homes.
Gaza’s health system is on its knees, clean water is at a trickle and the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of the threat of widespread famine, the UN said.
“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 confirmed the incident adding that following the attack the vessel informed a nearby coalition task force warship and, as instructed, engaged in 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 is being reported on the heels of the deployment of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a multi-national security initiative established to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The establishment of the operation has prompted industry majors the likes of Maersk, CMA CGM, and COSCO to partially resume transiting through the Red Sea both eastbound and westbound.
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Posted: 1 day ago
“Some vessels have made the transit through the Red Sea.
