International crews on board vessels with Israeli ties are in the firing line as the Israel-Hamas conflict spills over into shipping
In the last week, as Israel has taken tentative steps toward de-escalation in its war with Hamas with hostage exchanges and a fragile cease-fire agreement holding, for now, in Gaza, commercial ship crews have faced attacks and vessel seizures while transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen.
Product tanker Central Park, part of Israel-born Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime fleet, was boarded by a team of five armed attackers, according to the United States military’s Central Command. The ship sent out a distress call and US military intervention forced the attackers to release the vessel and attempt to flee.
Shortly after the attackers were aprehended, Central Park apparently took fire, with two ballistic missiles the US Pentagon said were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in war-torn Yemen landing within 10 nautical miles of the vessel.
"The distress signal is received; the coalition ships and aircraft surround Central Park. They demand the release of the vessel. The five armed individuals flee on a small boat. They are chased by the VBSS team, apprehended and detained. The VBSS then boards Central Park, clears the ship, ensures that it’s good to go; makes contact with the crew. The crew is safe. And the ship is back under power. About an hour and a half after they have boarded Central Park... was when the two missiles were fired, which landed in the water, 10 nautical miles near the vicinity of the two ships," US Brigadier General Pat Ryder said.
Although the Pentagon said in the press conference "initial indications" are the five attackers are Somali, a drone attack just two days earlier on Eyal Ofer’s brother Idan’s 15,264-TEU Eastern Pacific Shipping container vessel CMA CGM Symi was suspected to have closer ties to Iran, which supports Hamas through weapons deals and military training and, similarly, Yemen’s Houthis.
The drone attack followed the first clear attack on Israel-linked vessels since the outbreak of Israel’s war against Hamas. A week prior to the drone attack, pure car and truck carrier Galaxy Leader, owned by the Israeli Abraham Rami Ungar-controlled Ray Car Carriers, was hijacked and taken, with its 25 crew, to Yemen. The ship was being operated by Japan’s NYK Line and its crew members came from Bulgaria, the Philippines, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico.
In response to the violence targeted at merchant vessels, the consortium of national shipowners touting a membership of some 80% of the world’s fleet, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has called the attacks "a flagrant breach of international law and maritime norms by paramilitary forces in Yemen".
"The cost to the safety and well-being of the seafarers on board those ships while in the service of global trade being embroiled in these attacks should not be underestimated," the ICS said.
The group urged vessels in the region to follow industry routeing guidance and conduct thorough threat and risk assessments. ICS also called for military security in the region to be "maximised to ensure no other ships and their crew[s] fall victim to such aggression".
The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) also called on commercial vessels operating in these areas to exercise caution and "remain cognisant of evolving threats" in the region. The MARAD warning covers threats to commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea and Somali Basin.
At least one major container ship operator, Israel-based ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, has said it will reroute some of its vessels, while saying it is committed to serving Eastern Mediterranean and Israeli ports.
"In light of the threat to the safe transit of global trade in the Arabian and Red Seas, ZIM is taking temporary proactive measures to ensure the safety of its crews, vessels and customers’ cargo by rerouteing some of its vessels. As a result of these measures, longer transit times in the relevant ZIM services are anticipated, though every effort is being made to minimise disruptions. ZIM is closely monitoring the situation to address potential risks and ensure the ongoing safety and efficiency of its operations," the company said.
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