The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an attack on a Marshall Islands-flagged Bulk Carrier, GENCO PICARDY (IMO: 9301720), approximately 60NM Southeast of Aden, Yemen. The vessel's captain reported that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) struck the Port side of the ship. A fire broke out on board as a result of the attack, but it has since been extinguished.
The vessel and its crew are safe and are continuing to their next port of call.
Multiple sources report that within hours of the attack on the GENCO PICARDY (American owned and operated by Genco Shipping & Trading Limited) U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen.
The Indian Navy has confirmed that its destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, responded to the bulker’s distress call and intercepted the vessel at 00.30 a.m Thursday morning. It confirmed that there were no injuries among the 22 crew, which includes nine Indians. Indian Navy EOD specialists inspected and rendered safe the damaged area before clearing the vessel to continue underway.
The GENCO PICARDY is the second US owned vessel, and third bulk carrier, to be hit by the Houthis since the January 15 strike on Eagle Bulk’s GIBRALTAR EAGLE, which was followed the next day by a strike on the Maltese-flagged, and Greek-owned, bulker ZOGRAFIA, operated by Vulcanus Technical Maritime Enterprise. Both vessels in these previous attacks are in categories being targeted by the Houthis: GIBRALTAR EAGLE is US owned, while the ZOGRAFIA was headed for Israel.
The incident is currently under investigation by the authorities, and the MARA team will continue to provide updates and analysis upon receipt of confirmed information to support informed decision-making.
All vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activities to the UKMTO.
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