А handysize bulk carrier came under two pirate approaches in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday morning, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. The vessel was transiting the corridor between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden when small craft began to pursue it and opened fire.
According to private maritime security firm Diaplous Group, the attackers made two separate attempts to close in on the ship. Armed guards on board returned fire on both occasions, deterring the skiffs and preventing any boarding attempts. No casualties were reported among the crew.
After the security team drove off the assailants, the vessel continued its voyage without further incident.
TradeWinds reported that the vessel involved in the attack was the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier Bobik, which has a deadweight of about 31,900 tonnes, a length of roughly 175 metres and a beam of 29 metres. It is commercially managed by Century Shipmanagement SA, while Euromed Shipmanagement Ltd is listed as the registered owner.
