Marshall Islands Flagged Ship Attacked by Missile in Gulf of Aden

On January 15, 2024, a serious incident took place in international waters when the Gibraltar Eagle, a merchant vessel flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was struck by a missile. Owned and operated by Eagle Bulk Shipping, based in Stamford, Connecticut, the attack occurred at approximately 4 p.m. Sanaa time, according to the U.S. Central Command. The source of the missile was identified as being launched from Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen.

Despite the severity of the situation, the company confirmed that the ship sustained only minor damage to a portion of the cargo hold and emphasized the safety of the crew, stating all personnel on board were unharmed and the vessel was in stable condition post-impact. The Gibraltar Eagle was reportedly transiting through the Gulf of Aden, carrying a shipment of steel products when struck by the projectile about 100 miles from the coast.

The incident follows a series of tense maritime encounters in the region. Just a day before, the U.S. Central Command reported an anti-ship cruise missile attack by the Iran-supported Houthi militants targeted towards the USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was intercepted and neutralized by U.S. defense systems. This was part of the ongoing conflict in the area, which included a reported counterstrike by USS Carney (DDG 64) against Houthi military infrastructure using cruise missiles.

Maritime risk specialists have issued advisories to commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, stemming from the capability of the Houthis to strike within these areas. The advisories categorize the threat levels and recommend avoidance or heightened security measures depending on the vessel's affiliation to certain countries such as the U.S., U.K., Israel, or a list of other nations perceived as allied interests.

Shipping, Conflict, Maritime