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Missile strikes UK general cargo ship off Yemen

A Houthi missile found its target some 70 nm south of Aden causing minor damage and a minor injury to a crew member, according to reports from US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent

February 23, 2024

1 Min Read
US strikes on Houthi targets
Photo: US CENTCOM X Feed

The 15,900dwt Islander, built in 1996, was continuing its journey to Al Aladabiyah, Egypt Red Sea port just south of Suez, according to CENTCOM. However, VesselsValue’s AIS data shows the ship is stationary outside of the port of Djibouti. Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare'e has said the vessel is on fire.

Owned by Gemstone Marine Ltd, registered in Monrovia, Liberia and flying the Palau flag, and insured by the UK P&I club British Marine, according to VesselsValue data, the vessel is described by CENTCOM as “UK-owned”.

CENTCOM reported: “the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missiles impacted MV Islander a Palau-flagged, UK-owned, cargo carrier causing one minor injury and damage.”

Islander was hit several hours after CENTCOM had reported that US navy had successfully downed a number of missiles and drones that were “likely targeting US and coalition warships.”

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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