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MSC ship hit by Houthi missile Southeast of Yemen

The MSC Sky II was targeted by Houthis who fired an anti-ship missile which struck and damaged the vessel, UK MTO reports that all crew are safe and the ship has continued on its journey.

Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent

March 5, 2024

1 Min Read
US Navy Helicopter in the Arabian Gulf
Photo: US NAVCENT Public Affairs

MSC Sky II is heading for Abu Dhabi according to VesselsValue and was 91 nautical miles southeast of Aden when the missile hit its target. VesselsValue AIS shows the 2,169 teu vessel heading east at 11 knots subsequent to the attack.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare’e reported: “The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against an Israeli ship “MSC SKY” in the Arabian Sea with a number of suitable naval missiles.”

Security firm Dryad Global reports that the Houthis fired two missiles at the MSC Sky II one missed its target the other struck the accommodation block causing a fire which was quickly dealt with.

“The vessel is thought to have had an Israeli association,” said Dryad Global in its ARMS Maritime Security weekly report.

According to the Equasis database the 1999-built, Liberian registered MSC Sky II is managed by MSC Shipmanagement in Cyprus, and registered owner Thorsky Navigation is listed as c/o the management company is Cyprus.

US CENTCOM confirmed the attack: “Between the hours of 3:50pm and 4:15pm (local time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V MSC SKY II, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container vessel. One of the missiles impacted the vessel causing damage. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries; the ship did not request assistance and continued on its way.”

Related:Red Sea struck by three new risks as Rubymar sinks

CENTCOM also reported further failed attacks one earlier that had crashed into the sea and later in the day another two anti-ship missiles had been destroyed by US forces.

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About the Author

Nick Savvides

Europe correspondent

Experienced journalist working online, in monthly magazines and daily news coverage. Nick Savvides began his journalistic career working as a freelance from his flat in central London, and has since worked in Athens, while also writing for some major publications including The Observer, The European, Daily Express and Thomson Reuters. 

Most recently Nick joined The Loadstar as the publication’s news editor to develop the profile of the publication, increase its readership and to build a team that will market, sell and report on supply chain issues and container shipping news. 

This was a similar brief to his time at ci-online, the online publication for Containerisation International and Container News. During his time at ci-online Nich developed a team of freelancers and full-time employees increasing its readership substantially. He then moved to International Freighting Weekly, a sister publication, IFW also focused on container shipping, rail and trucking and ports. Both publications were published by Informa. 

Following his spell at Informa Nick joined Reed’s chemical reporting team, ICIS, as the chemical tanker reporter. While at ICIS he also reported on the chemical industry and spent some time on the oil & gas desk. 

Nick has also worked for a time at Lloyd’s Register, which has an energy division, and his role was writing their technical magazine, before again becoming a journalist at The Naval Architect for the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. After eight successful years at RINA, he joined Fairplay, which published a fortnightly magazine and daily news on the website.

Nick's time at Fairplay saw him win the Seahorse Club Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year 2018 awards.

After Fairplay closed, Nick joined an online US start-up called FreightWaves. 

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