Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on British oil tanker Pollux

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis fired missiles at British oil tanker Pollux in the Red Sea, the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea says in a statement.

Sarea claims the ship suffered a direct hit.

Yesterday, the US State Department said the Pollux had been hit on its port side by a missile launched from Yemen. It identified the ship as a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and British maritime security firm Ambrey said a Panama-flagged tanker had reportedly been hit 72 nautical miles (133 km) northwest of the port of Mokha, off Yemen.

“The vessel … reportedly sustained minor damage. The crew was reported safe and unharmed,” Ambrey said.

M/T Pollux embarked from Russia’s Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk on Jan. 24 and was due to discharge in Paradip, India, on Feb 28, according to LSEG data. Indian Oil Company has a 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) oil refinery at Paradip, in eastern Odisha state.

The ship is owned by Oceanfront Maritime Co SA and managed by Sea Trade Marine SA, according to LSEG data. Representatives from those firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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