Houthi rebels hijacked the ship Galaxy Leader last month
Many of the merchant ships threatening to enter the Red Sea amid the growing threat from the Houthi rebels an Iranbacked group that controls part of Yemen are carrying armed men. In addition to the danger on the right side of the Bab elMandeb Strait, where the Yemeni coast is located, there are also dangers from pirates on the left side, in Somalia.
The region is one of the most important for commercial shipping in the world, providing the only access to the Suez Canal, the shortest route from the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and East Asia, and moving billions of dollars.
Several ships that appeared in realtime monitoring systems this Tuesday (19) no longer showed the destination port on their ship ID cards, but only the information “armed guards on board”.
Major shipping industry associations have urged companies to exercise caution when taking such measures. They were asked to “conduct a full risk assessment” that takes into account “the risk of an escalation” of violence.
British maritime security company Ambrey reported this week that there was an “armed confrontation” between guards on board a ship and attackers, also armed, who arrived in a speedboat.
Armed private guards have been deployed aboard merchant ships in these waters for years and have helped curb Somali piracy attacks for more than a decade, shipping industry sources said.
The Marshall Islands Shipping Registry, one of the world's major shipping flags, said in a separate statement Thursday that ships have been advised to “reevaluate the use of force rules with their private shipping companies.” Security”.
“A clear distinction must be made between suspected small arms attacks and forces with more advanced weapons,” the warning said, adding that deployment of armed forces was not recommended as it “could lead to a significant escalation.”
The industry warning noted that ships that turn off their tracking transponders to avoid detection could also complicate rescue efforts if problems arise.
The Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Leader vehicle transporter on November 19 with a military helicopter, heavily armed men and speedboats in support. There was no response from the crew and the ship was taken to a port in Yemen, where it now lies with the 25 crew members.
However, the attacks that the group has carried out in recent days cannot be prevented by guards. They used missiles and suicide drones to hit the ships at least 20 were damaged.
Somali pirates
The Malteseflagged bulk carrier Ruen was hijacked last week by pirates from Somalia, a country near Yemen the two lie about 150km apart in the Gulf of Aden.
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has expressed concern that pirates are returning to the waters of the Gulf and Red Sea amid tensions caused by the Houthis.
On Friday a Spanish warship was hastily dispatched to check the condition of the Ruen. The ministry said in a statement that the ship “has been under the control of pirates since the morning of December 14,” marking the first official confirmation of the ship's fate.
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“This was considered likely the first hijacking of a merchant vessel by Somali pirates since ARIS 13 [naviotanque capturado] in 2017. Ambrey estimated that the event is likely partly a result of political instability in the Puntland region.
Eunavfor (the European Union naval force) told Portal on Monday that the incident was ongoing and that it had taken place in “close cooperation with the local Somali authorities.”
The USA announces a coalition
The destroyer USS Carney is one of the American ships in the Red Sea Disclosure/US Central Command
On Monday, the Pentagon announced the formation of a military coalition of 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Bahrain and the Seychelles.
The initiative, called “Operation Guardian of Prosperity,” aims to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The coalition will operate under the umbrella of the International Naval Force Combined Maritime Forces, a group of 39 countries committed to protecting the flow of trade and improving maritime security in various regions.
The Pentagon stressed that the escalation of Houthi attacks threatens free trade, endangers sailors and violates international law.
The U.S. defense secretary stressed the importance of addressing the challenge posed by the Houthis, a nonstate actor that has fired ballistic missiles and drones against merchant ships from several nations that legally transit international waters.