Egypt denies links to vessel targeted by Houthis

Egypt’s Transport Ministry on Thursday denied reports linking the country to a vessel targeted by Yemen’s Houthi group, saying the ship had never entered an Egyptian port and was not bound for Egypt.

The vessel TIHAMA sails under the Tanzanian flag and is owned by a Yemeni citizen, while its operator, Blue Sea for Management Marine, is managed through its Dubai branch, according to the ministry’s statement.

The company is not registered with Egyptian shipping chambers and does not hold a licence from Egypt’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector to operate as a maritime agency, it said.

The ministry was responding to reports and social media posts claiming that the company operating the vessel was based in Alexandria, Egypt.

It said the vessel had never entered an Egyptian port, was not bound for Egypt and was not carrying cargo belonging to Egyptian entities or individuals.

The ministry said it was monitoring developments affecting the country’s territorial waters and maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Mediterranean, as well as the safety of Egyptian shipping companies, vessels, and seafarers.

It urged media outlets to verify information concerning Egypt’s transport sector through official government sources before publishing reports.