Joint Maritime Center: Oil Tanker Assesses Potential Oil Spill in the Red Sea After Houthi Attack

Yemen Monitor/Agencies

The Joint Maritime Center reported on Tuesday that the Liberian-flagged oil tanker, “MT Khious Lion,” was assessing damages and investigating a potential oil spill after being attacked by  Houthis in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Reuters reports.

A drone caused minor damage to the “MT Khious Lion” on Monday, part of a series of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and another ship sailing about 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s coastal city of Hodeidah.

A joint inquiry committee investigating the ship incident said in a statement: “While the vessel was initially heading south, after the attack it turned and headed north, outside the threat area to further assess the damage and investigate a potential oil spill.”

It added that the ship’s master and crew were safe.

The “MT Khious Lion” manager did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Houthi group said it targeted the “MT Khious Lion” and “Bentley 1” with ballistic missiles, drones, and explosive-laden boats in response to a deadly Israeli airstrike on Khan Yunis city southern of Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Since November, Houthi attacks have imposed an economic toll on global trade by forcing ship-owners to divert their vessels away from the shorter route to the Suez Canal towards the longer and more costly route around Africa.

They also pose an environmental risk in the form of spilled cargo such as oil and fertilizers, as well as fuel used to power ships.