By Jana Choukeir, Ahmed Tolba and Daphne Psaledakis
CAIRO, Feb 16 (Reuters) – A Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil certain for India was struck with a missile within the Crimson Sea, the U.S. State Division mentioned on Friday.
The missile launched from Yemen hit the M/T Pollux on its port facet, in keeping with the State Division.
Earlier on Friday, the UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) company and British maritime safety agency Ambrey mentioned a Panama-flagged tanker had reportedly been hit 72 nautical miles (133 km) northwest of theport of Mokha, off Yemen.
“The vessel … reportedly sustained minor injury. The crew was reported protected and unhurt,” Ambrey mentioned.
“That is one more instance of the lawless assaults on worldwide delivery, which proceed after quite a few joint and worldwide statements calling the Houthis to stop,” a State Division spokesperson mentioned.
M/T Pollux embarked from Russia’s Black Sea port metropolis of Novorossiysk on Jan. 24 and was as a result of discharge in Paradip, India, on Feb 28, in keeping with LSEG information. Indian Oil Firm has a 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) oil refinery at Paradip, in japanese Odisha state.
The ship is owned by Oceanfront Maritime Co SA and managed by Sea Commerce Marine SA, in keeping with LSEG information. Representatives from these companies didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
One other vessel three nautical miles to the northeast of the M/T Pollux was noticed altering course to port, away from the tanker, Ambrey mentioned.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have mentioned they may press on with assaults on Crimson Sea delivery in solidarity with the Palestinians, so long as Israel continues to commit “crimes” in opposition to them.
“Our operations have a big effect on the enemy which represent an awesome success and an actual triumph,” Houthi chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi mentioned in a televised speech on Thursday.
The assaults on ships have disrupted international commerce, stoked fears of inflation and deepened concern the Israel-Hamas struggle might unfold.
(Reporting by Jana Choukeir in Dubai, Ahmed Tolba in Cairo and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; writing by Adam Makary and Hatem Maher; enhancing by Jason Neely, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis and Barbara Lewis)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
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