A Saudi company-owned oil tanker caught fire after coming under attack in the Red Sea on Thursday, while in a separate maritime incident, India's Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) successfully prevented a potential ecological disaster by securing an LPG tanker that had lost propulsion power near Great Nicobar Island.
According to Saudi Arabia's official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing an official source from the Transport General Authority (TGA), the Saudi-owned tanker Encelia was attacked while sailing in the southern Red Sea. The strike caused a fire at the vessel's bow, though all crew members were reported safe. Saudi authorities said they had taken all necessary measures to secure the vessel, ensure the crew's safety, and protect the marine environment.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the attack occurred around 70 nautical miles (130 km) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia.
Yemen's Houthi group later claimed responsibility for targeting two Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The group alleged the vessels had violated maritime restrictions it announced earlier this week in response to what it described as Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-controlled areas.
The attack has heightened concerns over the security of the Red Sea shipping lane leading to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising fears that disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz could spread to another key global maritime route.
Shipping analytics firm Kpler said vessel traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait declined sharply on Tuesday as regional security deteriorated. The firm also reported several vessels making U-turns near the Gulf of Aden following Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping, warning that continued attacks could force shipping route changes, increase freight costs, and keep geopolitical risk premiums elevated in global energy markets.
Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) successfully secured the Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker MV Pyra, preventing what officials described as a potential ecological disaster.
The vessel, which was travelling from Khor al Fakkan Anchorage in the UAE to Singapore, issued a distress call after losing propulsion power and drifting dangerously close to the Andaman coast.
"Demonstrating alert vigilance and a mission-ready response, ANC launched 'Op Lancer' after receiving a distress call from the Not Under Command (NUC) vessel MV Pyra," the command said in a post on X.
Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships, supported by three tugs, were deployed to assist the 224-metre-long vessel, which was drifting at around 0.5 knots. The tanker was safely anchored within India's territorial waters off Great Nicobar Island, preventing it from running aground.
A naval technical team later boarded the vessel to provide assistance. Officials said the ship's master has contacted the owners and managers for further technical support, while authorities are yet to determine whether the vessel's engines can be repaired to allow it to resume its voyage to Singapore.
Officials warned that if the tanker had run aground and suffered a rupture, its hazardous cargo could have triggered a major explosion and caused severe environmental damage.
The ANC said the operation highlighted its commitment to maritime safety, ecological protection, and timely assistance to vessels in distress.
