Red Sea: Brent gains over the weekend after airstrike on another oil tanker

Brent’s price moved higher after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported airstrikes launched at another crude oil tanker in the Red Sea on Saturday from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

PHOTO: A crude oil tanker. Getty Images

The front-month ICE Brent contract gained $0.27/bbl on the day from Friday, to trade at $82.65/bbl at 09.00 GMT.

Four ballistic anti-ship missiles were launched at a Panamanian-flagged and Denmark-owned vessel MT Pollux by Iran-aligned Houthi militants on 17 February, US CENTCOM said.

The US Department of State said that the missiles struck the port side of the vessel carrying crude oil from Russia and bound for India, Reuters reported.

“It is assessed that at least three of the missiles were launched towards commercial vessel MT Pollux,” CENTCOM said. No damages to the tanker were reported.

British maritime security firm Ambrey said that the tanker had reportedly been hit by the missiles 72 nautical miles (133 km) northwest of the Port of Mokha in Yemen.

This is the most recent incident in a series of attacks since last November that have raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

The US and UK military forces have continued to retaliate to these attacks on commercial vessels in the essential Red Sea trade routes.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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