Unity-Explorer

Three merchant ship, two bulk carriers and one container vessel, were attacked by Houthis in the southern Red Sea near Bab al-Mandab Strait, on Dec 3, 2023. All three ships suffered minor or no damages. The destroyer USS 'Carney' was also unsuccessfully attacked and was engaged in assisting and defending the cargo ships afterwards. It shot down an UAV at 12 p.m. The drone was headed towards the ship, though it was unclear, whether it was the target. Affected were the 'Unity Explorer, which has its AIS off since Nov 28, and which came under attack of an anti-ship ballistic missile at 9.15 a.m. Sanaa time, and which was struck by a missile. The 'Carney' responded to its distress call and shot down another drone. The 'Unity Explorer' reported minor damage. At 3.30 p.m. the container m/v 'Number 9', (IMO: 9340752), en route from Singapore to Suez, was struck by a missile and suffered damage. The bulk carrier 'AOM Sophie II', en route from the USA (IMO: 9881366), which had its AIS positions and records in the Caribbean Sea since Nov 26, sent a distress call after being struck by a missile at 4.30 p.m. The destroyer responded and reporeted no significant damage. On its way, it shot down another UAV headed in its direction.

While the 'Unity Explorer' was berthed at the port of Douala, Cameroon, she was boarded by perpetrators who broke the padlock on the forecastle store and stole ship's properties on May 16, 2020, short past midnight. The crew was reported safe. The ship left Douala on May 22.

Salvamento Marítimo has evacuated a crew member of the 'Unity Explorer' who was suffering from heart problems and has taken him to the port of Tarifa (Cádiz), where he was waiting for an ambulance. The ship alerted the MRCC of Tarifa on Dec 2, 2019, at 9.15 a.m., indicating that a sailor had suffered a possible heart attack. The 'Salvamar Arcturus' carried out the medical evacuation three miles southeast of Tarifa. At 10.50 a.m.the man was delivered to an ambulance at the port of Tarifa, which took him to hospital.