Vietnam strongly condemns attacks on cargo ships

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Vietnam strongly condemns attacks on international shipping routes, following the Houthi raid in the Gulf of Eden that killed a Vietnamese sailor.

Indian Navy rescues True Confidence crew. Video : X/indiannavy

Referring to the attack on the cargo ship True Confidence at sea by Houthi forces in Yemen on March 6, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang today emphasized that "Vietnam strongly condemns the violent and inhumane attacks targeting innocent civilians and civilian vehicles on international shipping routes."

*Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

"We demand that relevant parties immediately stop the use of force and ensure security, safety and freedom for international maritime routes in accordance with international law," Ms. Hang added.

The spokesman said that on board the True Confidence there were four Vietnamese crew members, of whom one died and three were in normal health condition.

Vietnamese representative agencies will continue to closely contact local authorities, take measures to protect citizens, and handle funeral issues for deceased crew members to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Hai Phong Maritime Investment, Trade and Services Company Limited (HP MARINE), the unit that signed the contract to send 4 Vietnamese workers to work for the True Confidence ship, said that the person killed in the attack was first mate Dang Duy Kien, 41 years old, residing in Hai An district, Hai Phong.

The remaining three Vietnamese crew members are in normal condition, including chief engineer Pham Van Thanh, 39 years old, from Hai Phong; second engineer Nguyen Van Tao, 36 years old, from Hai Duong; and third engineer Phung Van An, 33 years old, from Thai Binh. The entire crew has been taken to the LeLaurier Hotel in Djibouti.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the cargo ship True Confidence was attacked by missiles at around 11:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. Hanoi time) on March 6 and caught fire in an area offshore more than 90 km from the port of Aden, Yemen. The ship is owned by the Liberian shipping company True Confidence Shipping, flies the flag of Barbados and is currently operated by the Greek company Third January Maritime.

CENTCOM said that due to heavy damage to the cargo ship, the sailors abandoned ship and were assisted by warships led by the US-led military coalition in the area.

This is the first recorded casualty since the Houthis stepped up attacks on cargo ships passing through the Red Sea to pressure Israel to stop its campaign against Hamas, the Houthis' ally in the anti-Tel Aviv resistance axis in the Middle East.