A ship has come under a barrage of fire after being attacked by “multiple small vessels”, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has confirmed.
The attackers opened fire and used handheld grenades off the coast of Yemen.
Armed security teams have returned fire, the UKMTO has said.
The situation is ongoing, and authorities are investigating the incident.
A ship has come under a barrage of fire after being attacked by ‘multiple small vessels’
UKMTO
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hodeidah in western Yemen is situated on the Tihāmah coastal plain that borders the Red Sea.
It is one of the country’s chief ports and has modern facilities.
The Red Sea is heavily used by trade ships travelling between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal.
The Red Sea is heavily used by trade ships travelling between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal
GETTY
It offers a shorter and more efficient route for trade between Asia and Europe compared to going around Africa.
About 15 per cent of global maritime trade and around 30 per cent of global container traffic pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Recent attacks on ships in the region have led to increased shipping costs, longer transit times, and disruptions in global supply chains.
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