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Please find below our most recent Flash Report. If you have any queries about our reports please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attack on the Liberian-flagged, Greek managed Container Ship GROTON (IMO: 9246310) approximately 170NM East of Aden, Yemen.

The Master of the GROTON reported that the armed security team (AST) observed a small explosion in close proximity to the vessel. Open-source reports suggest the GROTON was struck twice by missiles, with the second impact reportedly causing “minor damage.” Some reports also suggest one of the impacts may have caused a fire to break out on board, but no injuries among the ship’s crew have been reported. The vessel was rerouted to a nearby port. Authorities are investigating.

The GROTON had reportedly left Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed in a statement on Sunday that the vessel was targeted “because the company that owns the ship decided to violate the ban on entry to ports of occupied Palestine.”

All vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution and to report any suspicious activities to the UKMTO.

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