An Okeanis Eco Tankers’ very large crude carrier was the target of armed drones on October 21,as the vessel had called for loading at the Al-Dabba oil terminal in Ash Shihr, Yemen.
The company confirmed two “drone-driven explosions” in close proximity to its 2022-built Nissos Kea, informing that the ship sustained no damage in the attack and no injuries to the crew were reported.
After the incident, the vessel sailed from the loading port in international waters, with the company stating that:
All necessary precautionary measures were duly taken beforehand and during the incident
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militias claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a “warning strike” to prevent pro-government forces from using terminals for oil exports.
On a statement about the incident, the EU strongly condemned the attack, saying that:
Houthi attacks on international shipping are an affront to core principles of the Law of the Sea, jeopardizing freedom of navigation through the region’s waterways and blocking access to Yemeni ports. They deprive Yemenis the ability to afford fundamental necessities and could impact the flow of essential goods into Yemen
EU also added that “the path forward is to reduce tensions, de-escalate, and redouble efforts to end Yemen’s conflict through a negotiated settlement. This is the only way to ensure that all Yemenis can benefit from the country’s resources and enjoy a more prosperous future. We will continue supporting efforts led by UN Special Envoy Grundberg to renew the truce and reach a political settlement to the conflict in Yemen.”
