Sea-Champion

The 'Sea Champion' arrived in the port of Aden on Feb 20 after being attacked in the Red Sea in what appeared to have been a mistaken missile strike by Houthi militia. The bulk carrier, which was ferrying corn from Rosario to Aden, was attacked twice on Veb 19, with a window damaged but no crew injuries. The vessel was now unloading part of its cargo of 9,229 tonnes of corn in Aden, before proceeding to Hodeidah, where it was to discharge the remaining load of 31,000 tonnes.

In the evening of Feb 19, 2024, the Houthis said they had targeted three vessels in the last 24 hours, including the British-registered 'Rubymar', the US-owned 'Sea Champion' and the 'Navis Fortuna'. Earlier, the maritime security firm Ambrey had reported that a Greek-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier was attacked twice in two hours in the Gulf, which adjoins the Red Sea. The bulk carrier reported a missile attack before another projectile hit the water just meters from the ship. The master reported evidence of shrapnel and damage to paintwork in the second incident, the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The 'Sea Champion', with 23 crew members on board, was sailing from Argentina to Aden carrying grain when it reported a missile attack in the Gulf of Aden before another projectile hit the water just metres from the ship. A projectile impacted the water 10 to 15 meters off the vessel’s starboard side. Two hours prior, the bulker had reported the first incident. No injuries or damage were reported in either incident and the ship continued its voyage. The 'Navis Fortuna' was approaching the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait in the afternoon. Later the UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti, also near the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.