Tanker Attack Reported in Gulf of Aden, Expanding Houthi Reach

First Reported Attack South of Bab el-Mandeb Since Blockade Began

The UK Maritime Trade Operations unit (UKMTO) has logged what appears to be an attempted attack on a tanker in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first such incident in this stretch of water since the Houthi blockade of Saudi ports began last month. According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the vessel’s master reported hearing an explosion close to the ship while transiting roughly 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden — a position well outside the usual traffic lane leading to and from Bab el-Mandeb.

No injuries or pollution were reported, and an investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing.

Possible Target Identified

Open-source analyst AtlasObserver has tentatively linked the incident to the Dominica-flagged product tanker Daisy (IMO 9516545), noting it was the only vessel showing on AIS near the reported time and location, while other traffic in the area was clustered further north along the main shipping route. Shortly after the reported explosion, the Daisy changed course and stopped transmitting its AIS signal.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, which also identified the vessel as a Dominica-flagged tanker, said the explosion occurred roughly 40 meters off the ship’s port side, producing a shockwave felt by those on board. Houthi forces subsequently claimed responsibility, stating that a ballistic missile had struck the Daisy and forced it to turn back — a claim that has not been verified by other sources.

A Possible Shift in Houthi Targeting

The Daisy broadly matches the type of vessel Houthi forces have targeted in the past: a tanker linked to Saudi trade, moving toward Bab el-Mandeb. Until now, attacks tied to the current blockade campaign have been concentrated in the southern Red Sea, near Houthi-held coastline. A confirmed strike in the Gulf of Aden — an area the group has targeted before, but not during this latest campaign — would indicate a willingness to widen the geographic scope of operations.

The apparent attack comes soon after Houthi forces warned they would step up strikes as Saudi shippers try to avoid the southern Red Sea. Some tankers loading at Yanbu have reportedly begun rerouting north through the Suez Canal to sidestep the blockade, a workaround the Houthis have publicly objected to. The group said this week it intends to tighten its naval blockade in response to these rerouting efforts.

What It Means for Owners and Managers

For ship owners, managers, and charterers, an expansion of hostile activity into the Gulf of Aden — even if unconfirmed — raises the stakes for voyage planning well beyond the traditional Red Sea danger zone. Vessels that assumed a southerly Gulf of Aden routing offered a margin of safety relative to the Bab el-Mandeb corridor may need to reassess that assumption, particularly for tankers connected to Saudi cargo flows.

This incident is also a reminder of why pre-transit and post-incident condition assessments matter in contested waters. Even when no casualties or spills occur, a nearby explosion and resulting shockwave can stress hull plating, piping systems, and machinery in ways that are not immediately visible. Owners operating in or near these waters should treat any reported blast, however minor it appears at first, as grounds for a thorough hull and machinery inspection before the vessel resumes normal service. Bunker quantity and quality checks are equally relevant if a vessel has altered course, slowed, or idled unexpectedly, since abrupt operational changes can affect fuel consumption records and stock accountability.

As the situation develops, verified details — including confirmation of the vessel’s identity and the nature of the attack — will matter greatly for insurers, flag states, and charterers assessing risk exposure along this corridor.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.