US Navy intercepts missiles in Red Sea while escorting Maersk ships, firm says

Shipping company Maersk says two US-flagged vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait northbound accompanied by the US Navy turned around today after seeing explosions nearby.

“While en route, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the US Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles,” Maersk says in a statement.

The vessels and crew are unharmed and are being escorted back to the Gulf of Aden by the US Navy, Maersk says.

Both vessels are operated by Maersk’s US subsidiary that carries cargo for the Department of Defense, Department of State, USAID and other US government agencies.

They are both enrolled in the Maritime Security Program and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift with the US government, which is why it was escorted through the strait by US Navy vessels, Maersk says.