Lycavitos, a Greek-owned supramax bulk carrier, operated by Helikon Shipping Enterprises, was damaged by Houthi missiles in the Gulf of Aden yesterday (15 February) afternoon, local time.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sare’e confirmed on the movement’s Telegram and TV channels that the vessel, which it says is a UK vessel, had been targeted. Helikon Shipping Enterprises has an office in London, but its headquarters are in Glyfada in southern Athens.
“We carried out a military operation against a British ship, Lycavitos, while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden,” Sare’e said in a statement broadcast by the group’s al-Masirah satellite TV channel.
He added, “We are in the process of taking further military measures in response to the American-British aggression on our country and confirming our practical position to support the Palestinian people.”
The 58,800dwt Lycavitos was reportedly damaged by the missile, but there were no casualties, and the ship is currently, heading for the Bab al-Mandeb strait and to Suez, according to VesselsValue AIS tracking.
According to the latest reports from a Yemeni official, the ship sustained damage from a fragment that struck a diesel generator pipe, causing a diesel fuel leak.
The UK Marine Trade Organisation (UKMTO) reported that the attack took place 85 nautical miles east of Aden. Ambrey, a UK security firm, said the bulk carrier had suffered minor damage after the missile found its target.
Built at the Tsuneishi Cebu shipyard in Japan and delivered in 2007, the ship was loaded in Singapore and is destined for Suez port in Egypt to discharge its cargo.
Container News contacted Helikon Shipping, but an employee said the company would not be making a statement at this time.
Repeated operations to degrade the Houthi’s military capabilities in the region carried out by UK and US forces have failed to prevent the continued attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
In addition, the US central command CENTCOM posted on X, formerly Twitter, that its forces had intercepted a vessel delivering arms to the Houthi Movement on 28 January.
A US Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response vessel, the USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr, located the Yemen-bound vessel and boarded it in the Arabian Sea, said CENTCOM.
“The boarding team discovered over 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle (UUV/USV) components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components,” said the CENTCOM statement.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, added, “Iran’s continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”
Mary Ann Evans
Correspondent at Large
