MAERSK HANGZHOU

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Latest news

Denmark condemns Houthhi attack as completely unacceptable and sends frigate

Denmark said on Dec 31 that the attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the 'Maersk Hangzhou',, owned by Danish company Maersk, was “completely unacceptable.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen as saying that “the unprovoked attack against a Maersk ship is completely unacceptable. Unfortunately underlines the severe situation in the Red Sea. This is why we wish to send a frigate to the area to help ward off similar attacks." Denmark will submit a resolution to parliament in Jan 2024 to contribute to the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian with a frigate that can be deployed from the end of the month, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. Operation Prosperity Guardian is a defensive coalition of more than 20 nations to ensure billions of dollars’ worth of commerce can flow freely through a vital shipping chokepoint in Red Sea waters off Yemen. The US said that it fired “in self-defense” and sunk three of four Houthi boats, killing their crews. On Dec. 31 at 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) the container ship had issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. They fired crew-served and small arms weapons at the ship, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A security team aboard the container ship engaged in fire, and in response to a distress call, US helicopters from the USS 'Eisenhower (CVN 69)' and USS 'Gravely (DDG 107)' were also dispatched. After being warned verbally, people in the small boats opened fire on the US helicopters. The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. No damage to US personnel and equipment was reported.

Maersk ship attacked twice by Houthis

The United States military has sunk three outhi boats waging an attack on the ' Maersk Hangzhou' in the Red Sea as it continued its patrol mission to counter threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Helicopters from two US warships – the USS 'Eisenhower' and USS 'Gravely' – shot at the Iranian-backed small boats in self-defence in the morning of Dec 31, 2023, while responding to a distress call from the 'Maersk Hangzhou'. The US helicopters sunk three of the boats, killing several of their crew. A fourth boat escaped.The 'Maersk Hangzhou' issued its distress call after it was fired at by the Houthi boats, which came as close as 20 metres and also tried to board ir. As the US helicopters responded, they were also shot at by the Houthi boats, prompting them to return fire. It was the second alleged Houthi attack on the 'Maersk Hangzhou' in less than 24 hours. Late in the night of Dec 30, CENTCOM shot down two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis as it responded to a separate missile strike on the'Maersk Hangzhou'. In the wake of the attacks, Maersk was suspending its operations in the Red Sea for 48 hours, highlighting the continued threat to commercial vessels in the region.

Medevac in Strait of Kasos

The Port Authority of Heraklion was informed in the afternoon of June 8, 2021, by the JRCC that a 31-year-old crew member of the'Maersk Hangzhou', which sailed in the ​​Strait of Kasos enroute from Haifa to Koper, needed immediate hospital treatment. A Super Puma helicopter of the Air Force immediately took off and hoisted the 31-year-old man. He was transported safely to the Heraklion for medical care.