On March 6th, the bulk carrier TRUE CONFIDENCE, registered under the flag of Barbados and boasting a deadweight tonnage of 50,000 tons, was struck by a missile approximately 60 nautical miles southwest of Aden. The incident occurred around 11:30 local time (08:30 GMT), as reported by the US military.
The vessel was traveling from Lianyungang, China, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Despite efforts from the crew, the resulting fire proved uncontrollable, prompting 18 out of the 20 crew members to abandon ship using a lifeboat. They were subsequently rescued by the Indian Navy frigate KOLKATA.
According to the US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees operations in the Middle East, three crew members lost their lives in the attack, while at least four others sustained injuries, three of them critically.
The crew consisted of 20 individuals, including one Indian, four Vietnamese, and 15 Filipino nationals. Additionally, three armed guards, hailing from Sri Lanka and Nepal, were also present on board. The vessel is owned by True Confidence Shipping SA, registered to an address in Liberia, and operated by Third January Maritime Ltd in Greece.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers,” it posted on social media.
