Sea Mines a modern-day security risk off the coast of Yemen
Just before midnight on October 3rd 2020 MV Syra suffered an explosion and damage to her forward section at the Bir Ali crude single buoy mooring system. The explosion was thought to have been caused by a sea mine or floating improvised explosive device.
Episode 4 | 20 October 2020
About the episode
Just before midnight on October 3rd 2020, the 10 year old, Maltese flagged, Greek owned, aframax tanker - MV Syra suffered an explosion and damage to her forward section, whilst taking on crude at the Bir Ali crude single buoy mooring system, located in central Yemeni waters. The explosion was thought to have been caused by a sea mine or floating improvised explosive device.
Today Shoreline’s Captain Thomas Brown was joined by Cormac McGarry and Ashley Halabi of Control Risks to analyze the news of this attack on one of Shoreline’s client vessels.
News reports have further suggested that significant pollution may have been caused by the explosion whilst a number of floating objects reported in the vicinity of the tanker were reported to have subsequently exploded.
This is a worrying development in maritime security for vessels navigating and operating within the Gulf of Aden and Yemeni waters.
Shoreline acts as COFR guarantor for much of the petroleum cargo shipped from this part of the world to the US and hopes this podcast will provide useful insight and information to their clients operating in this particularly volatile part of the world.
About the contributors
Cormac is part of a specialised analytical team, spread across the world, dedicated to global, international and supranational issues where his primary responsibility is to manage Control Risks' maritime intelligence and security services.
Ashley is Control Risks' specialised Middle Eastern analyst providing in-depth regional analysis of ongoing security related issues.