Containership ASL Bauhinia Abandoned After Fire off Yemen

The crew of the Hong Kong-registered containership ASL Bauhinia evacuated the vessel after it was engulfed in flames on January 28, off the coast of Yemen. A passing ship rescued the crew, all of whom are reported to be safe.

Reports indicate that the fire was triggered by an explosion, though the exact cause remains undetermined. While the incident occurred approximately 226 kilometers off Yemen’s coast, there has been no confirmation of Houthi involvement. Maritime security experts have suggested that hazardous cargo may have been responsible for the explosion.

The rescued crew members, all of Chinese nationality, were safely transported aboard another vessel.

The ASL Bauhinia, a 2022-built vessel owned by Shanghai-based Asean Seas Line, was on its way from Jebel Ali to Aqaba via the Suez Canal, with a scheduled stop in Jeddah on January 29.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway. Meanwhile, the vessel remains adrift at sea, with thick plumes of black smoke still rising from it.