An oil tanker temporarily lost propulsion after it was hit by a Houthi missile on 18 May.
The US Central Command said that at 1 am Yemen time, Iranian-backed Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) into the Red Sea and struck the 2003-built 105,400 dwt Wind, an Aframax oil tanker.
According to the Central Command, Wind most recently docked in Russia and was bound for China. Central Command said, “The impact of the ASBM caused flooding which resulted in the loss of propulsion and steering. A coalition vessel immediately responded to the distress call by Wind, but no assistance was needed. The crew of Wind was able to restore propulsion and steering, and no casualties were reported. Wind resumed its course under its own power.”
The Panama-flagged Wind is managed by Athens-based Adriatic Tankers Shipping and the tanker was carrying fuel oil loaded in the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
UK Maritime Trade Operations said that the master of Wind reported “slight” damage to his ship after it was struck by an unknown object on its port quarter.
Security company Ambrey Analytics said VHF signals suggested that Wind was hit by a missile and there was a fire around the steering gear.
It is the second Houthi attack on a ship controlled by Greek ship owner Panagis Zissimatos.
On 17 February, a same-age Aframax tanker, Pollux, was struck by a Houthi missile on its port side while sailing from Novorossiysk to Paradip, India.
Central Command said that hours after the assault on Wind, around 9.35 pm Yemen time, another Houthi missile was launched, but did not hit any ships. Central Command noted, “This continued malign and reckless behaviour by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
