According to an official statement from the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), the fire that broke out in the Red Sea on the Hong Kong-flagged container ship ASL BAUHINIA has been officially confirmed to be unrelated to the activities of the Houthi armed forces.

The incident occurred in the early hours of January 28, 2025, when the crew of the ASL BAUHINIA discovered a fire on deck about 122 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, Yemen. After unsuccessful attempts to contain the fire, the crew were forced to abandon ship and were rescued by nearby vessels.

"It was assessed that the incident was not related to an attack by the Houthis," JMIC said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and needs to be further confirmed after the salvage operation is completed.

The ASL BAUHINIA, a 1,930 TEU container ship built in 2022, was en route from Jebel Ali to Aqaba via the Suez Canal. According to initial reports from security sources, the fire may have been triggered by an explosion of dangerous goods.

The incident comes amid progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that is expected to lead to a gradual resumption of shipping services in the region. The JMIC has advised vessels in the vicinity of the ASL BAUHINIA to report their location to the UK Office of Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).