Trafi naphtha tanker hit by missile in Red Sea: Update

A tanker carrying gasoline blendstock naphtha was struck by a missile Friday while transiting the Red Sea, according to the shipper, Trafigura.

The Marlin Luanda was struck by a missile and caught fire, Trafigura said. The Yemeni armed forces claimed responsibility for the attack.

The vessel is a long range 2 (LR2) product tanker that loaded in the Mediterranean and was pointed toward southeast Asia, according to vessel tracking data. The Marlin Luanda's registered owner is Oceonix Services, which is listed with a UK address, according to a ship database run by the International Maritime Organization.

Crews are deploying firefighting equipment in one of the ship's cargo tanks on the starboard side, Trafigura said.