The vessel, on its journey from Vila do Conde port in Brazil to Bandar Imam Khomeini in Iran, was attacked twice within a 20-minute timeframe while transiting the Bab al Mandab strait in a southeast direction.
According to AIS data from MarineTraffic, the Star Iris had departed from Brazil on January 12. Maritime security specialists Ambrey have reported physical damage to the ship's starboard side, though no injuries among the crew have been documented.
This incident marks the 51st attack on merchant ships since the beginning of November, coinciding with the decision of the Houthi forces in Yemen to align with the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.
The strike occurred early this morning and is the first reported attack in the Red Sea area in six days.
Notably, on February 6, another vessel from Star Bulk, the Star Nasia kamsarmax, sustained minor damage when targeted by three missiles.
Arsenio Dominguez, the new secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), emphasized the need for a "multi-faceted" solution to address the ongoing shipping crisis in the Red Sea during an interview with Splash two weeks ago.
