The Houthis launched two new attacks on April 26, 2024, the 26th, marking the third consecutive day of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. They claimed to have attacked the 'Andromeda Star' and 'Maisha'. The UK Maritime Organization also confirmed that the incident occurred 14 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukha, Yemen near the northern part of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The captain of the 'Andromeda Star' reported that two missile attacks caused minor damages to the vessel. Despite the attack, the vessel, en route from Primorsk to Vadimar, continued transmitting signals indicating it had no contact with Israel. Np one was injured in the attack, and the tanker continued its voyaage. The missile directed to the 'Maisha' exploded close to the vessel. The master of the vessel stated that the crew onboard felt the repercussions. The tanker was en route from Cochin to the Suez Canal.
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HMS DIAMOND
HMS 'Diamond' shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Houthis on April 24, 2024. The warship used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks.”
ANDROMEDA STAR
The Houthis launched two new attacks on April 26, 2024, the 26th, marking the third consecutive day of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. They claimed to have attacked the 'Andromeda Star' and 'Maisha'. The UK Maritime Organization also confirmed that the incident occurred 14 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukha, Yemen near the northern part of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The captain of the 'Andromeda Star' reported that two missile attacks caused minor damages to the vessel. Despite the attack, the vessel, en route from Primorsk to Vadimar, continued transmitting signals indicating it had no contact with Israel. The 'Cochi' of the Indian Navy assisted the ship, and all 30 crew members, including 22 Indians, were reported safe. The destroyer intercepted the tanker, and did an aerial assessment. A team from the Navy also boarded the tanker to undertake a residual risk assessment. They said the vessel was deemed safe and continued its voyage. The missile directed to the 'Maisha' exploded close to the vessel. The master of the vessel stated that the crew onboard felt the repercussions. The tanker was en route from Cochin to the Suez Canal. The case of the 'Andromeda Star' is of particular interest, as it belongs to the so-called shadow fleet hauling Russian oil around the world. The aframax was bought in Nov 2023 by the Seychelles company Algae Marine. After a collision with the Bulgarian cargo m/'Peace' in the Danish Strait, it turned out that the ship’s insurance documents were not valid and the vessel’s emergency generator was faulty, raising again concerns about the potential for an environmental catastrophe with a number of near-disasters reported among the ageing fleet of tankers of the shadow fleet
MSC ARIES
In the case regarding Indian crew members aboard the 'MSC Aries', seized by Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs said on April 25 that one of the 17 Indian crew members has safely returned to India and the others were safe. They will be released once their contractual obligations have been accomplished. The Ministry asked for consular access for the 16 seafarers, and the officers met them. Their health was good, and there was no problem of any kind on the ship. Concerning their return, there were some technicalities and contractual obligations. Once they are done, their return will be decided. This came as the Iranian envoy to India, Iraj Elahi, has said that the Indian crew members of the 'MSC Aries' wre not detained and that they were free to go.
GALAXY LEADER
The European Parliament called on the EU to take immediate measures to free the hostages taken by Yemeni Houthis during the attack on the 'Galaxy Leader', including three Ukrainian citizens. The European Parliament has drawn up a resolution concerning the hostage of crew members by Iran-backed Houthi forces, adopted on April 25 during a meeting in Strasbourg. The document was voted in favor by 357 MEPs, against by 20, and 58 abstained. “The European Parliament… Calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen and intensify efforts to secure the safe and immediate release of all hostages taken (on board) the Galaxy Leader, including two Bulgarian, one Romanian and three Ukrainian nationals, who have been held by the Houthis since November 19, 2023,” the resolution noted. In addition, the European Parliament called on the EU High Representative and Member States to step up diplomatic efforts in this context and to engage all relevant parties to ensure the safe return of the captured Europeans without further delay. The document notes that Iran keeps the Yemeni Houthis under direct control and provides them with substantial military support. International shipping severely affected The International Chamber of Shipping has called on the international community to act to secure the immediate release of all 25 crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader', who have been seized by military force and held hostage by the Houthis.