A Norwegian ship, the M/V Swan Atlantic, was struck by an “unidentified object” in the Red Sea on Monday, its owner said, as several global shipping giants suspended all transit in the area, AFP and News.ro reported.

“Fortunately, the Indian crew members were not injured and they said the vessel suffered minor damage,” Norwegian shipowner Inventor Chemical Tankers said in a statement, adding that the tanker, which was traveling from mainland France to Reunion, had not been contacted. with Israel. .

Earlier in the morning, two maritime security services reported an explosion off the coast of Yemen. This incident coincides with a visit to the region by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, whose main theme will be maritime security.

When he arrived in Bahrain on Monday, he was to discuss “US efforts to bring together multilateral coalitions to respond to maritime aggression that threatens maritime transport and the global economy,” according to a US Defense Department statement released over the weekend.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have carried out a series of drone and missile attacks against ships in the Red Sea, claiming they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who are under Israeli bombardment. Some of the attacks of the Houthi rebels were aimed at the territory of Israel.

As a result of these attacks, several major shipping companies, including two of the largest in the world, decided to suspend passage through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, through which 40% of international trade passes. The M/V Swan Atlantic is currently under the protection of the US Navy.