MAINPORT CEDAR

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Aid Ship Docks in Yemen after Diversion to Saudi Arabia

A World Food Programme (WFP) ship carrying humanitarian aid offloaded its cargo in Yemen on Wednesday, the United Nations said, after it was diverted to Saudi Arabia last month because it was carrying communications equipment. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition in a war against Iran-allied Houthi rebels and army forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in an effort to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power. The Mainport Cedar, which the United Nations said was carrying a cargo of humanitarian relief supplies bound for the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida, was diverted by the coalition to the Saudi port of Jizan on Feb. 11. "The World Food Programme confirms that the Mainport Cedar has offloaded its cargo at Yemen's Hodeida port today," said U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq. "The vessel was carrying interagency cargo that includes canned tuna and medical supplies. It had also been carrying information technology equipment that was left behind in Jizan to complete paperwork to allow it into Aden for the U.N. humanitarian hub," Haq said. http://www.marinelink.com/news/diversion-arabia-docks406035.aspx

Detaines ship released

The "Mainport Cedar" which was detained by Arab coalition forces on suspicion of arms smuggling in the Gulf of Aden has been released. The ship was carrying humanitarian supplies from Djibouti to Yemen for the World Food Programme (WFP) when it was apprehended almost a fortnight ago. It was diverted to Jizan on Feb 12, where it was held until early this week. It has now sailed to Hodeidah where it arrived early on February 24. The 13 crew members, two Britons, seven Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Croatian and one Bulgarian, were able to remain on board, The only arms on board were three fully licensed firearms kept in a locked secure cabinet for crew safety.

Irish-owned ship held by Arab coalition forces in Saudi Arabia

An Irish-owned ship which was carrying humanitarian supplies to Yemen has been detained by Arab coalition forces on suspicion of arms smuggling. The 54m vessel MV Mainport Cedar was en route to the Yemeni port of Hodeidah from Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, when it was apprehended late last week. Owner Mainport of Cork confirmed that the ship, with 13 crew on board, none of whom are Irish, was diverted to the Saudi Arabian port of Jizan where it was still being held yesterday. The Mainport Cedar, registered in the Marshall Islands, was built in Malaysia in 2013 for the Cork-based shipping company as a seismic support, tug and supply vessel. A spokesman for Mainport said the ship had been on regular charter trips for the World Food Programme (WFP) and was carrying a cargo of tuna, medical supplies and telecommunications equipment to Yemen when it was escorted to Saudi Arabia for inspection. None of the crew – two Britons, seven Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Croatian and one Bulgarian – had been harmed. The spokesman said the diversion was a “formality” relating to paperwork. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-owned-ship-held-by-arab-coalition-forces-in-saudi-arabia-1.2537080