Armed small boat opens fire on containership in Southern Red Sea

October 12 ------ An armed small boat opened fire on a containership transiting the Southern Red Sea, prompting renewed security concerns in the strategically important shipping corridor.

As reported, all crew members were reported safe following the incident, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), which operates as part of the EU Naval Force. The incident occurred at approximately 06:15 UTC, when the small boat fired at the vessel as it sailed north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The attackers subsequently moved away from the containership, although the circumstances surrounding their withdrawal remain unclear.

Maritime security consultants identified the vessel as CUL Klang, operated by China United Lines (CULines). No immediate claim of responsibility was reported, and further details about the circumstances of the attack were not immediately available.

The vessel was sailing from Port Klang, Malaysia, at the time of the incident. The ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) was displaying the message “China owned & CHN crew” following the incident. The attack adds to security concerns surrounding commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a key maritime route connecting the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, remains a critical passage for international trade, making security incidents in the area a concern for shipowners, operators and seafarers.

Source: safety4sea.com