“Reassuringly, so far, it appears that there were no physical injuries although this is a serious incident for the crew. The fire was quickly brought under control by the crew, which demonstrated great seamanship and operational skills. The Norwegian Maritime Authority regards this as a serious incident since the MT Strinda is yet another civilian vessel being attacked,” explains Alf Tore Sørheim, Head of the Department of Operative Supervision.
The security level in this area is already at the second highest. However, the severity of this attack makes a new evaluation of the security level necessary. The level will not be automatically raised, but considerations are being made regarding the need for more detailed information to those entering the area.
The NMA is collaborating with the Security and Contingency Planning Department of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association in managing this case, and we will contact the shipping company. We have also worked closely both with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Potential change in security level following the MT Strinda attack
The Norwegian tanker MT Strinda was hit by a missile off the Yemeni coast on 11 December, resulting in a fire. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. In response to this incident, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) is considering the possibility of raising the security level and urges increased vigilance in the region.