Livestock ship from Somalia comes under attack in Red Sea, briefly detained in Yemen

RED SEA — A Comoros-flagged livestock vessel was intercepted and temporarily detained in the Red Sea on July 24, 2025, after unidentified individuals in a wooden boat opened fire and ordered it to divert to the Yemeni port city of Mocha, maritime officials and security sources said.

The vessel, Merinos Livestock, was en route from Bosaso, Somalia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it was intercepted approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Mocha, near the Hanish Islands, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) later confirmed that the Yemeni Coast Guard had detained the ship. A Yemeni maritime security official told Reuters that the vessel was held on suspicion and subsequently released after an inspection.

Naval authorities were reportedly alarmed because the ship had turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) — a mandatory tracking signal — while sailing north from the Horn of Africa, triggering concerns about its origin and cargo.

Ambrey noted that the crew reported receiving instructions to divert to Mocha but did not specify who issued those orders. The firm advised commercial ships to avoid waters east of the Hanish Islands and maintain a safe a distance from small vessels in the area.

Though some analysts initially suspected involvement by the Houthi rebel group — which has targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023 — no group has claimed responsibility for the July 24 incident.

The Merinos Livestock, a converted 1976-built cargo vessel now used for transporting animals, is managed by a Greek company and sails under the Comoros flag. It measures 88 meters in length and has a top speed of just 10 knots.

According to maritime safety databases, the vessel has a checkered record, with 14 deficiencies recorded between 2016 and 2023, as well as multiple detentions. It has not undergone a port state inspection since it was renamed Merinos Livestock in 2024.

No injuries were reported during the incident, and the ship has since resumed its journey to Saudi Arabia.

GAROWE ONLINE