A small livestock carrier was confronted and temporarily detained while sailing near the Yemeni coastline on Thursday.
The precise circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but maritime security sources suggest the vessel may have been intercepted by local authorities due to its position, rather than being deliberately targeted by Houthi forces.
The vessel in question, Merinos Livestock, was heading from Bosaso in Somalia to the Port of Jeddah at the time of the incident.
It was widely reported that it disabled its AIS (Automatic Identification System) transmissions – a move that may have aroused suspicion and contributed to its interception.
The switching off of vessel-tracking technology has been used of late by maritime vessels as a means of avoiding potential violent interference by Yemen’s Ansar Allah militia, led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
It has also been reported that the Yemeni Coast Guard was involved, although this could not be confirmed.
Between 2016 and 2023, the vessel was subject to 14 inspections, all of which recorded deficiencies. On several occasions, the ship was detained because of these findings.
Although the Houthis are known to target vessels in the region, they have not claimed responsibility for this incident and often delay issuing statements about their operations.
At the time of the encounter, the vessel was sailing east of the Hanish Islands, approximately 30 nautical miles north-west of the Yemeni Port of Mocha. A single wooden boat reportedly approached the ship, and there were accounts of small arms fire during the incident.
The crew were instructed to divert to Mocha, and vessel tracking data confirms a 180-degree turn consistent with that command. According to the latest update from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship was being held by the Yemeni Coast Guard.
Reuters later reported that the vessel had been detained on suspicion but was subsequently released.
Originally constructed in 1976 as a general cargo ship, Merinos Livestock has since been converted for transporting animals.
It now sails under the Comoros flag and is managed by a Greek shipping company. Measuring approximately 88 metres (289 feet) in length and capable of a top speed of around 10 knots, the vessel would be considered a relatively soft target in these strategically sensitive waters.
There is limited public information available about the ship’s operational condition. According to the Equasis shipping database, Merinos Livestock has not undergone a port state control inspection since 2023, shortly after being renamed.
