The Chinese-owned 'Huang Pu', en route from Ust-Luga, was attacked 23 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha by ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels on March 23, 2024. The tanker issued a distress call but did not request assistance. “No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course. A fire had broken out on board the ship but was extinguished within 30 minutes. The vessel was now sailing out of the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden heading for its next port of call New Mangalore.
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YAMILAH-III
The 'Yamilah III', en route from Fujairah to Yanbu, was attacked by Houthi militants approximately 109 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s Nishtun in the Gulf of Aden on March 21, 2024. The master of the tanker reported sighting a small boat with four people on board, which was approaching the tanker. The small boat followed the tanker before beginning an approach. When it was at a close distance the armed security guards aboard the tanker fired warning shots. There was an exchange of small arms fire between the pirates and security guards. The pirate boat departed after the exchange of fire.
ABDULLAH
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) has deployed a warship under its anti-piracy mission Operation Atalanta near the hijacked 'Abdullah' as of March 22. A helicopter was also seen hovering around the ulk carrier. The EUNAVFOR has been monitoring the vessel since it was hijacked on March 12 with 23 crew members en route to the UAE from Mozambique along the Indian Ocean. The crew has been subsequently held hostage by the Somali pirates. After days of unsuccessful efforts to communicate with the pirates, the hijackers eventually made contact with the vessel's owners for the first time on March 20, who do not want any military intervention, fearing that it could jeopardise the safety of the sailors. The pirates did not make further communications with the owners of the ship until the evening of March 21 to negotiate the release of the crew members. The ship was located four nautical miles from the Godobjiraan shore as of March 22. Photos: https://twitter.com/EUNAVFOR/status/1770877737751752805
FGS HESSEN
On March 21 at 9 a.m. the 'Hessen', while providing close protection to a merchant vessel of EU interest in the Southern Red Sea, has destroyed a Houthi drone in the Red Sea, which targeted a civil towing association. It was destroyed with the ship's own helicopter. No further details were mentioned for operational reasons. The ship is tasked to protect merchant ships in the frame of the NATO mssion Aspides.
NEW LEONIDAS
On March 20, 2024, the 'New Leonidas', en route from Ust-Luga, encountered a small boat while sailing 160 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman, in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel observed armed individuals aboard the boat, along with a ladder. The bulk carrier was followed for approximately 20 minutes by the small boat. The captain reported the people in the boat were armed. When the pirates approached, the armed guards on the bulker fired warning shots, forcing the pirates to retreat without retaliating. The bulk carrier continued on its way.