Three crew members have been killed and at least four are injured in a Houthi missile attack against the Barbados-flagged cargo ship True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden. The damage caused is significant, according to the Central Command of the armed forces of the United States.
The ship owner said the vessel was hit by a missile believed to have been fired by the Houthis off the coast of Yemen.
Yemeni rebels later claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Greek operators of True Confidence (IMO: 9460784) reported that the ship was drifting and was on fire. They also said they had no information on the condition of the 20-member crew and the three armed guards. There are 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, one Indian, and one Nepalese on board.
A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said smoke was seen coming from the True Confidence and that a lifeboat was seen in the water near the ship.
It is the first death since Iran-backed Yemeni rebels began attacking merchant ships.
True Confidence (IMO: 9460784) is a 2011-built Barbados-flagged bulk carrier with a deadweight of 50,448 DWT and a gross tonnage of 29,104 GRT. The ship has a length of 182.00 m and a molded beam of 32.00 m.
