Bulk carrier True Confidence hit in Aden Gulf, 3 crew members missing
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A Barbadian-flagged ship was affected in an unknown incident off the coast of Yemen, which resulted in it catching fire and rendered 3 of its crew members missing.
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A view shows Barbados-flagged US-owned bulk carrier vessel True Confidence, in Ravenna, Italy March 10, 2022 (Dario Bonazza/ REUTERS)
A "maritime incident" in the Red Sea left three crew members missing and caused severe burns in four others after a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier sustained damage in a cloudy operation off the coast of Yemen.
The bulk carrier, True Confidence, sustained serious damage off the coast of Yemen on Wednesday, with one shipping source telling Reuters that the vessel appears to have been abandoned in the wake of the incident.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency received a report of the incident, which occurred 54 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Aden.
While authorities are actively investigating the situation, no immediate claim of responsibility has been made. However, suspicions point toward Yemeni Forces, as the latter has been launching drone and missile strikes against Western ships headed to the Israeli ports in occupied Palestine.
The True Confidence's owner initially attributed the attack to a missile strike believed to have originated from Yemen, which has been engaging in similar activities since mid-November.
The maritime industry has faced significant disruptions due to these attacks, compelling shipping companies to reroute their vessels on longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, with the Yemeni Armed Forces underlining that they would allow for the resumption of trade when the war on Gaza ends.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported seeing smoke emanating from the True Confidence and noted the presence of a lifeboat in the water near the vessel.
The Yemeni Armed Forces on Tuesday carried out a meticulous military operation in which they attacked two US warships in the Red Sea, a spokesperson announced.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces attacked the two US warships in support of the people of Gaza and in retaliation for Washington's aggression on Yemen, which it is carrying out jointly with the United Kingdom.
"The Yemeni Armed Forces, with God's help, carried out a monumental military operation in which they targeted two US warships in the Red Sea," Saree said.
The Yemeni spokesperson revealed that the attack was carried out using ballistic missiles and drones as the military underlined that they would not relent.
"The Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to expand the circle of fire in response to the calls of the free people of Yemen and the Islamic Ummah as well as in support of the Palestinian people that are still being subjected to aggression and blockade," he added.
Saree once again underlined that the Yemeni operations would not cease until the aggression on Gaza comes to an end and the blockade on the Palestinian people is lifted.
