AFP – Two ships reported nearby explosions on Tuesday off the coast of Yemen, maritime security agencies said, though neither event resulted in damage or injuries.
One ship positioned 63 nautical miles southwest of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida reported two nearby explosions early on Tuesday.
“A small craft was observed in the vicinity acting suspiciously and flashing lights towards the vessel,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The ship was then “attacked by an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), which was successfully disabled”, according to the agency, which is run by the British navy.
“The vessel and crew are reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call.”
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), run by a 45-member international naval coalition, identified the vessel as the Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Delta Atlantica.
A second ship, positioned 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeida, also reported “an explosion in the vicinity of the vessel”, UKMTO said.
The JMIC identified the ship as the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker On Phoenix.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility of the explosions.
