Tanker assesses possible Red Sea oil spill after Houthi attack, maritime centre says

Liberia-flagged oil tanker, “Chios Lion”, was assessing damage and investigating a potential oil spill after it was attacked by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

An unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage to “Chios Lion’s” port side on Monday as part of a swarm of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and another ship sailing around 100 nautical miles north-west of Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah.

“While originally headed south, following the attack the vessel turned around and back north out of the threat area to further assess damage and investigate potential oil spillage,” the JMIC said in a statement.

It added that the captain and crew were safe.

The manager of “Chios Lion” did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted “Chios Lion” and “Bentley I” with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats in response to the deadly Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Saturday.

Since November, Houthi attacks have exacted an economic toll on global trade by forcing ship owners to route vessels away from the Suez Canal shortcut and toward the longer, more expensive route around Africa.

They also pose a risk to the environment in the form of spilled cargo such as oil and fertiliser, as well as fuel used to power vessels.

READ: Vessel reports being attacked off Yemen, UKMTO and Ambrey say