CAIRO: A merchant vessel was listing and its crew evacuated after an incident 105 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a body that reports on incidents at sea, said on Friday.
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, have launched attacks on global shipping for more than a year in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.
It was not clear if this incident was linked to Houthi activity.
UKMTO cited a military source as saying that the merchant vessel was listing astern and was a hazard to shipping in the Bab Al-Mandab waterway, adding that crew were evacuated to Djibouti.
The vessel had reported flooding in the engine room, and the master requested assistance, as its crew of 20 were forced to abandon it.
One maritime security source said that the ship experienced engine problems, and another said it had reported an internal explosion.
Houthis have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November 2023.
