U.S. forces fired precision munitions at the stern of the St Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier HUDA after CENTCOM said the vessel repeatedly ignored blockade warnings. Crew condition and the full damage assessment remained unconfirmed at the research cutoff.
1. HUDA disabled after alleged blockade breach
• U.S. Central Command said the action occurred in the Gulf of Oman on November 7 after HUDA visited an Iranian port and allegedly attempted several times to violate the U.S. naval blockade.
• CENTCOM said the civilian crew ignored repeated warnings. The crew was directed to leave the targeted spaces before a U.S. military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern.
• ClassNK identifies HUDA as IMO 9197088, a 24,993 dwt bulk carrier built in 1999 and registered in St Kitts and Nevis. The ship is 159.92 metres long and managed by Mimi Shipping Co. S.A.
• CENTCOM did not identify the Iranian port, the vessel’s cargo or the evidence used to determine that it was attempting to breach the blockade. Those elements remain attributed military claims.
• UKMTO recorded an unnamed bulk carrier incident involving military forces approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan. Crew condition, damage and environmental impact were listed as unknown. Industry reporting associates that report with HUDA, but UKMTO had not named the vessel.
• No official towage, salvage, detention, pollution-response or port-of-refuge arrangement had been announced by the cutoff.
2. Philippine authority revises VELOS SAPPHIRE crew status
• Philippine Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said 22 Filipino seafarers were aboard VELOS SAPPHIRE when the tanker was struck north of Qatar.
• The department reported one fatality, one injured seafarer and 20 other crew members safe. The nature and severity of the injury had not been established.
• This conflicts with the vessel manager’s earlier statement that there were no other injuries. The discrepancy remained unresolved at the cutoff.
• The department said it was coordinating with the manning agency on repatriation, family assistance and the injured seafarer’s condition.
• Cacdac also announced that the department intended to issue an advisory asking shipowners to avoid Persian Gulf passages where possible and respect seafarers’ rights concerning high-risk voyages. The final advisory text had not been independently located by the cutoff.
3. Los Angeles and Long Beach labour deadline moves to November 20
• The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 extended the port watchmen’s contract through November 20, with further negotiations scheduled.
• The approximately 250 watchmen represent a small share of the port workforce but control and inspect terminal entry points, provide security and guard critical cargo.
• A work stoppage could affect terminals handling approximately 85 percent of Port of Long Beach cargo and one-third of Port of Los Angeles cargo.
• The extension removes the immediate strike deadline. It does not represent a settlement, and another operational decision point now falls on November 20.
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Sources
U.S. Central Command
UK Maritime Trade Operations
ClassNK
Philippine Department of Migrant Workers
Pacific Maritime Association
DeepDraft Security Desk ↗
This update is part of the DeepDraft SITREP series covering developing maritime operational situations.
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