Delta Blue Tanker Attacked Near Yemen; Crew Safe, Vessel Proceeds

The Delta Blue crude oil tanker was attacked by two small craft near Yemen, with a rocket-propelled grenade exploding near the vessel. The attack aligns with recent Houthi strikes on international shipping due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The crew is safe, and the ship continues its journey.

The captain of the Delta Blue crude oil tanker reported an assault from two small craft 45 nautical miles south of Yemen's Mokha, with a rocket-propelled grenade detonating near the vessel, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency on Thursday.

Houthi militants, aligned with Iran, have been targeting international shipping around Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. Despite the attack, the Liberia-flagged Delta Blue and its crew are secure, and the ship is heading to its subsequent port of call, UKMTO confirmed.

LSEG data reveals the vessel is managed by Athens-based Delta Tankers. The company was unavailable for immediate comment. The two small, white and black boats, each with four individuals clad in white and yellow raincoats, carried out the attack.

These Houthi provocations have prompted retaliatory strikes from U.S. and British forces and caused disruptions in global trade, forcing ship owners to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea and Suez Canal to the longer passage around Africa's southern tip.

(With inputs from agencies.)