Despite the repeated ground attacks conducted by the US-led military coalition against the Houthi positions in Yemen, these efforts have not halted the missile and drone strikes carried out by the latter against merchant ships sailing near their coasts. On the morning of January 6, 2024, the security firm Ambrey together with the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that two ships were subjected to such attacks: they were the bulk carriers, Star Nasia and Morning Tide. The latter was hit by a drone, suffering minor damage to the bridge windows on the left side, with no injuries reported among the crew, and continued its voyage. The incident occurred 57 miles west of Hodeida.
The Morning Tide, flying the Barbados flag and owned by Furadino Shipping, had departed from the Bulgarian port of Varna and was heading east after passing through the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, the Star Nasia, under the Marshall Islands flag, had left the US port of Norfolk bound for Visakhapatnam in India.
