Unidentified armed people have seized a tanker carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid within the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, the vessel’s managing firm and a U.S. defence official mentioned.
The incident, involving the chemical tanker Central Park, is the newest in a collection of assaults in Middle Eastern waters since a brutal struggle between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out on October 7.
It adopted a seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo ship by Yemen Houthis, allies of Iran, within the southern Red Sea final week. The group, which additionally fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, vowed to focus on extra Israeli vessels.
“U.S. and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation,” the U.S. official mentioned.
Central Park, a small chemical tanker (19,998 metric tons), is managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a London-headquartered worldwide ship administration firm owned by Israel’s Ofer household. The Liberian-flagged vessel was inbuilt 2015 and is owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc, LSEG information confirmed.
Zodiac Maritime mentioned in an announcement Central Park, which is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid, was concerned in a suspected piracy incident whereas crossing worldwide waters, roughly 54 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.
Phosphoric acid is generally used for fertilisers.
“Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard. The Turkish captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals,” the assertion added.
There was no instant remark from Houthi officers.
Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations company (UKMTO) mentioned on Sunday it was conscious of a potential assault in southwest Aden and referred to as on different vessels to train warning.
The U.S. has blamed Iran for unclaimed assaults on a number of vessels within the area previously few years. Tehran has denied involvement.
A container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled firm was hit by a suspected Iranian drone within the Indian Ocean, inflicting minor injury to the vessel however no accidents, a U.S. defence official mentioned on Saturday.
Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 individuals. Since then, Israel has rained bombs on Gaza, killing about 14,000 individuals, roughly 40% of them kids, Palestinian well being authorities say.
Thirteen Israelis and 4 Thai nationals arrived in Israel early on Sunday after a second launch of hostages held by Hamas following an preliminary delay brought on by a dispute about help supply into Gaza.
(Reuters – Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi, further reporting by William Schomberg in London; Editing by David Goodman and Louise Heavens)
