Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion owner was assessing damage and investigating a potential oil spill after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported on Tuesday.
According to JMIC, an unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage to Chios Lion's port side on Monday as part of a swarm of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and another ship sailing around 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.
"While originally headed south, following the attack the vessel turned around and back north out of the threat area to further assess damage and investigate potential oil spillage," the JMIC’s statement added.
The manager of Chios Lion did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Since November, Houthi attacks have exacted an economic toll on global trade by forcing ship owners to route vessels away from the Suez Canal shortcut and toward the longer, more expensive route around Africa.
They also pose a risk to the environment in the form of spilled cargo such as oil and fertilizer as well as fuel used to power vessels.