Saturday July 26, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A small livestock carrier, Merinos
Livestock, was briefly detained on Thursday while sailing near the Yemeni
coastline, en route from Bosaso, Somalia, to the Port of Jeddah in Saudi
Arabia.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain
unclear. However, maritime security sources suggest the vessel may have been
intercepted by local authorities due to its position, rather than being
specifically targeted by Houthi (Ansar Allah) forces.
The ship reportedly disabled its Automatic Identification
System (AIS) transmissions—an action that raised suspicion and may have
prompted the interception. Disabling AIS has become a tactic used by vessels
navigating the volatile waters near Yemen to avoid potential interference by
armed groups, particularly the Ansar Allah militia, led by Abdul-Malik
al-Houthi.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Yemeni Coast Guard may
have been involved in the incident. However, no group has claimed
responsibility for the vessel’s brief detention, and the situation in the
surrounding waters remains volatile.
Local sources indicated that Merinos Livestock was detained
on suspicion but subsequently released. The vessel was reportedly underway near
the Hanish Islands, approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Mocha, Yemen,
when the incident occurred.
