DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A Hong Kong-registered container vessel was struck by an explosion while navigating through the Red Sea, leading to a significant fire that compelled the crew to abandon ship, according to maritime industry sources.
The stricken ship was reported to be adrift and engulfed in flames approximately 225 kilometers (140 miles) off the coast of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels, as stated by the Diaplous Group, a maritime consultancy. The specific name of the vessel has not been released.
NASA satellite imagery tracking wildfires indicates that the fire, which ignited on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, is consistent with MarineTraffic.com data showing the position of the ASL Bauhinia, the Chinese-flagged container ship. The vessel was on a route from Jebel Ali port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before it began drifting on Tuesday.
The origin of the fire remains uncertain, especially given the Red Sea’s history of attacks attributed to the Houthis. The group stated recently that they would be scaling back their missile assaults in light of a ceasefire related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. However, the Houthis have yet to comment on the incident involving the ship.
The crew managed to escape and were subsequently rescued safely, as confirmed by another industry official who requested anonymity due to the lack of public communication permission regarding the event.
Reports indicate that the vessel had claimed to be staffed entirely by Chinese crew members, a detail drawn from LSEG Data & Analytics. It is common practice for ships traversing the Red Sea during periods of conflict to broadcast such information or declare “Muslim crew” to reduce the chance of Houthi attacks.
Additionally, it’s noted that the Chinese navy maintains a presence in the region, with three vessels stationed in Djibouti, situated just south of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aden.
An official described the ship’s cargo as “dangerous,” though further details were not disclosed. Efforts to reach the ASL Bauhinia’s ultimate owner, CSSC Hong Kong Shipping Co. Ltd., for comments were unsuccessful as of Wednesday.
The Red Sea is home to delicate coral reefs and diverse marine life, both of which have been put at risk by incidents involving burning vessels and the looming threat of oil spills from Houthi-led aggressions.
Since the onset of Houthi attacks in November 2023, the volume of ships traversing this critical shipping lane has dropped significantly, halving due to heightened risks associated with energy and commercial cargo transport between Asia and Europe. Despite the Houthis’ commitment to reduce their assaults, many shipping companies remain wary and are avoiding the route. Historically, around $1 trillion worth of goods has been transported through this vital region annually.
