In a recent development, a fire broke out on board a vessel southeast of the Yemeni port city of Aden on Monday, following nearby explosions. The incident was reported by the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and British security firm Ambrey.

According to the reports, the vessel experienced a first explosion at a distance off its port quarter, followed by a second explosion that caused damage to the ship and subsequently sparked a fire. The crew is currently working to contain the blaze.

The UKMTO stated that Coalition Forces in the region are conducting an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, claimed that the "Israeli ship MSC SKY" was targeted by the Iran-aligned group in the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. has formed an international coalition aimed at safeguarding commercial traffic in the Red Sea region, specifically from attacks by Houthi militants, who have been carrying out these strikes in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Ambrey, in their initial report, mentioned that a container ship affiliated with Israel and flying the Liberia flag was hit during the attack. The ship was reportedly en route from Singapore to Djibouti. It was identified as being operated by ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, an Israeli international cargo shipping company.

Despite the incident, the container ship continued to transmit an AIS signal, indicating its ongoing operation. No additional details regarding the vessel's name were disclosed by either Ambrey or the UKMTO.

This recent incident follows the sinking of the Rubymar cargo ship on Friday, which became the first vessel lost since the Houthi attacks began in November.

As the investigation continues, authorities and maritime agencies remain vigilant in enhancing security measures to ensure the safety of commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea region.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.