An unrelated oil tanker on the Red Sea heading towards Asia. Credit: Anucha Sirivisansuwan via Shutterstock.

An oil tanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast was hit by an anti-ship missile from Yemen’s Houthis on Saturday (18 May), but the crew managed to restore power and stay on course, according to Centcom. 

The Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) into the Red Sea and struck M/T Wind, a Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated oil tanker. 

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The M/T Wind was recently docked in Russia en route to China. The impact of the ASBM caused flooding, resulting in the loss of propulsion and steering. A coalition vessel promptly responded to M/T Wind‘s distress call, but no assistance was required, as Centcom stated on the social media platform X. 

“The crew of M/T Wind was able to restore propulsion and steering, and no casualties were reported. M/T Wind resumed its course under its own power,” it added.  

A fire in the steering gear compartment was caused by the Houthi missile, according to a report by Reuters, in an attack that took place approximately ten nautical miles south-west of Mokha, a Red Sea port city in Yemen, as stated by British security company Ambrey. 

According to an advisory note from Ambrey, the ship had been filled with oil at the Sheskharis terminal in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in Russia and was heading to China, as per Reuters. 

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It is not yet clear why the oil tanker was attacked. The Houthis have not yet taken responsibility for the attacks.  

On 24 March, the Houthis attacked a Chinese oil tanker with multiple ballistic missiles, despite an agreement with China and Russia to allow their vessels safe passage through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

Centcom said on X that the Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea, causing minimal damage to a Chinese-owned and operated, Panamanian-flagged oil tanker, MV Huang Pu.