DUBAI: A Cameroon-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker issued a distress signal after an explosion onboard while off the coast of Yemen, British maritime security firm Ambrey and the European Union’s naval task force reported on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden, about 60 nautical miles south of Ahwar, on the southern coast of Yemen, according to Ambrey.
According to the British Royal Navy-run UKMTO agency, a fire started aboard the vessel after it was hit by an unknown projectile.
Ambrey said the crew had signalled their intention to abandon ship and that a search and rescue operation was underway.
According to Aspides, the EU task force, 24 of the MV Falcon’s 26 crew members were rescued, and two were reported missing. Rescue operations were ongoing, it said.
