USA Navy Destroyers Counter Attack While Escorting USA Chemical Tanker

In its latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory (MSTA), Dryad Global highlighted that, on December 1, two U.S. navy destroyers “were escorting three U.S.-owned, operated, and flagged merchant vessels” through the Gulf of Aden, “when they were attacked by Houthi missiles”.

“The destroyers countered the assault by engaging and destroying three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), three one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM),” Dryad stated in the MSTA, which pointed out that one of the vessels involved was the Stena Impeccable.

“At the time of the attack, all three merchant ships had their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) turned off and were heading towards Djibouti under the protection of the U.S. Navy and the 5th Fleet,” it added.

“Despite the attack, there were no injuries or damage to any of the involved vessels, both civilian and naval,” Dryad went on to state.

In its MSTA, Dryad said U.S. commercial ships have not transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since January, “opting instead for an African route to reach Djibouti”.

“Although the frequency of Houthi attacks has waned in recent months, the threat to commercial shipping remains significant,” the company warned.

“The presence of U.S.-flagged commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden suggests they might be engaged in resupplying U.S. military forces in the region. This aligns with the Houthis’ strategy of targeting ships believed to support or be involved in military operations, especially those linked to the United States or its allies,” it added.

“Such actions aim to disrupt military logistics and weaken the operational capabilities of their adversaries. The U.S. maintains a considerable military footprint in the region, notably in Djibouti, which could be for various strategic purposes, including enhancing direct military impact or potentially escalating regional tensions,” Dryad continued.

Dryad’s latest MSTA designates the Gulf of Aden with a “severe” risk and impact rating. That’s the second highest risk and impact rating used in Dryad’s MSTA, with the highest being “critical”.

A release posted on U.S. Central Command’s (Centcom) website on December 1 stated that U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and the USS O’Kane (DDG 77) “successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1”. 

“The destroyers were escorting three U.S. owned, operated, flagged merchant vessels and the reckless attacks resulted in no injuries and no damage to any vessels, civilian or U.S. Naval,” Centcom added in its release.

“The destroyers successfully engaged and defeated three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), three one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel, as well as civilian vessels and their crews,” it continued.

“These actions reflect the ongoing commitment of Centcom forces to protect U.S. personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis,” Centcom went on to state.

The Stena Impeccable is part of Stena Bulk’s fleet, according to the company’s website. The vessel is U.S.-flagged and was built in 2017, according to the site, which announced in a release dated March 9, 2017, that the Stena Impeccable had been delivered to Stena Bulk.

“The chemical and product tanker Stena Impeccable has a length of 183 meters, a beam of 32 meters, and a deadweight of 50,000 tons,” that release highlighted.

Rigzone contacted Stena Bulk and Centcom for comment on Dryad’s MSTA. In response, a defense official directed Rigzone to Centcom’s December 1 release. Stena Bulk has not yet responded to Rigzone’s request at the time of writing.

Dryad offers risk intelligence planning tools and cyber solutions for maritime, its website highlights. The business is headed by CEO Corey Ranslem, who is describes on the Dryad site as a recognized expert in U.S. Federal Court in maritime security. Dryad notes on its site that it is impartial.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com