Asiatic Lloyd boxship struck by the Houthis

A Singapore-flagged boxship belonging to Asiatic Lloyd became the latest victim of the Houthi campaign against merchant shipping today.

The 23-year-old, 2,078 teu Lobivia was struck by a number of projectiles 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden early this morning, according to UK maritime security consultancy Vanguard. The ship suffered damage to its port side mid-ship. As well as 24 crew, the ship had three private armed security guards onboard. No injuries have been reported. 

The Lobivia previously assisted the Rubymar after the ship was hit on February 18 this year becoming the first constructive total loss in the now nine-month long Red Sea shipping crisis.

Ambrey, another UK maritime security consultancy, stated that the Lobivia was transiting northeast along the Gulf of Aden early this morning when a merchant vessel in the vicinity observed “light and blast” where the ship was located. The ship appeared to perform evasive manoeuvres immediately and switch off its AIS approximately an hour later. 

More than 120 vessels have been targeted by the Houthis since last November. 

Littoral states around the Red Sea are having to contend with another environmental crisis, likely stemming from the Houthi attacks.

An oil slick extending some 200 km appeared in the Red Sea, satellite images show, likely from a tanker which was struck by the Houthis on Monday.

In an escalation by the Houthis, one of their drones hit Tel Aviv in Israel early this morning, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others.