Missile attack kills three, injures four sailors on bulk carrier in Gulf of Aden

Barbados-flagged bulk carrier True Confidence, owned by Liberian shipping company True Confidence Shipping SA, was struck in a missile attack, leaving three sailors killed and at least four injured, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

As informed, an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Yemen’s Houthi group on March 6. Barbados-flagged True Confidence was at that time transiting the Gulf of Aden.

After the missile struck the 183-meter-long vessel, the multinational crew reported three fatalities and at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition.

The 50,400 dwt ship, operated by Greek shipping company Third January Maritime, has experienced significant damage.

The officials noted that, following the attack, the crew abandoned the ship and coalition warships responded. Currently, they are assessing the situation. The event marks the first time civilians have been killed since the Red Sea attacks began.

The organizations ICS, BIMCO, CLIA, ECSA, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, IMCA and OCIMF have issued a joint statement regarding the attack on MV True Confidence:

“Industry Associations express their deep concern over the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered by the crew of MV True Confidence in an attack in the Red Sea on 6 March 2024. The loss of life and injuries to civilian seafarers is completely unacceptable. Merchant vessels crewed by civilian seafarers transporting global trade have a right to innocent passage through the region without the threat of attack.”

They also urged all stakeholders to take decisive action to safeguard the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and put an end to this type of threat.

This is the fifth ASBM fired by Houthis in the last two days. Two of these ASBMs impacted two shipping vessels – M/V MSC Sky II and M/V True Confidence – and one ASBM was shot down by USS Carney (DDG 64).

M/V MSC Sky II, an MSC-owned 2,169 TEU containership that was en route from Singapore to Djibouti, was hot by ASBMs on Monday (March 4). One of the missiles impacted the vessel causing a fire and minor damage. 

To remind, another MSC containership, MSC United, was attacked while transiting the Red Sea on December 26, 2023. At the time of the incident, the boxship was en route from King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia, to Karachi, Pakistan.

The Red Sea has become the epicenter of heightened tensions as Yemen’s Houthi group escalated their attacks on commercial vessels, sending shockwaves throughout the maritime industry. This has interrupted global shipping causing shipping majors to halt operations in the area. The events are said to have an impact on accelerating decarbonization of the shipping industry.