The Drive reports a gasoline tanker moored in the Saudi port of Jeddah has been attacked by a remote controlled motor boat packed with explosives. Presumably this attack was done by Yemeni Houthi Rebels. Jeddah is about 707 km or about 382 nautical miles from the Yemeni border, about half way up the Red Sea, on the Eastern side.

The resulting fire was extinguished and there were no personnel casualties.

“Cooling procedures and inerting of cargo space have been initiated to avoid reignition of fire,” it continued. “Ship stability is being assessed before proceeding with any further operations.”

I have to wonder, did they detect the in coming threat? Did they attempt to engage?

I would also note this is another example of how hard it it to seriously damage a large ship, particularly a tanker.

More on Houthi naval activities here, here, here, and here.

Topographic map in English of the Red Sea, UTM projection (WGS84 datum). Author: Eric Gaba – Wikimedia Commons user: Sting