by Lloyd's List

28 January 2025 (Lloyd's List) - A REGIONAL feeder containership understood to be operated by Chinese liner operator China United Lines is drifting in the Gulf of Aden following a serious fire in its cargo of containers.

The 1,800 teu ASL Bauhinia (IMO: 9935868) reported a fire when the vessel was 122 nautical miles northwest of the port of Hodeidah, Yemen at 2300 hrs GMT yesterday, January 27.

According to a Lloyd's List Intelligence report, the vessel is adrift and posing a navigational hazard to other vessels in the area.

The Hong Kong-flagged boxship is understood to have been abandoned by its crew.

It was on a regular voyage from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the Jordanian port of Aqaba.

The 2022-built ship is listed under the sailing schedules of CU Lines, which introduced a number of services to operate in to the Red Sea in 2024.

Constructed by Chinese shipbuilder Guangzhou Huangpu for intra-Asia liner operator Asean Seas Line, it is believed to have been chartered by CU Lines since October 2024. 

According to Lloyd's List Intelligence the vessel is classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai and is entered with P&I club UK Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association.