Read Authentic Ratings for the Mainport-Cedar

In a significant development for humanitarian assistance, a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel successfully unloaded its cargo in Yemen on Wednesday, as confirmed by the United Nations. The ship, named Mainport Cedar, had been rerouted to Saudi Arabia last month due to its transport of communication equipment. Saudi Arabia, which leads an Arab military coalition in conflict against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and supporters of the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, aims to reinstate President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power. The WFP reported that the Mainport Cedar was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida but was redirected to the Saudi port of Jizan on February 11. In a statement, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq noted, 'The World Food Programme confirms that the Mainport Cedar has offloaded its cargo at Yemen's Hodeida port today.' The vessel carried critical interagency supplies including canned tuna and vital medical resources. Additionally, it transported information technology equipment that remained in Jizan to finalize paperwork for its relocation to Aden, which serves as the U.N. humanitarian hub.

The 'Mainport Cedar', a vessel apprehended by Arab coalition forces over allegations of arms smuggling, has been released following a tense standoff in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, which was engaged in delivering vital humanitarian supplies from Djibouti to Yemen for the World Food Programme (WFP), was detained nearly two weeks ago. On February 12, the vessel was redirected to Jizan, where it was held until this week. It has now successfully traveled to Hodeidah, reaching its destination early on February 24. The crew of 13 members, comprising two British nationals, seven Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Croatian, and one Bulgarian, remained on board during the detention period. Notably, the only firearms discovered on the ship were three licensed weapons stored securely in a locked cabinet, intended solely for the safety of the crew.

The MV Mainport Cedar, an Irish-owned vessel, has been apprehended by Arab coalition forces while en route to Yemen, raising suspicions of potential arms smuggling. This 54-meter ship, which was transporting humanitarian aid, was on its way from Djibouti to the Yemeni port of Hodeidah when it was intercepted late last week. The Cork-based shipping company Mainport has confirmed that the ship, housing a crew of 13 members, none of whom are Irish, was redirected to the Saudi Arabian port of Jizan, where it remains in custody as of yesterday. The Mainport Cedar, registered under the Marshall Islands flag, was constructed in Malaysia in 2013 and serves as a seismic support, tug, and supply vessel. According to a representative from Mainport, the vessel has been actively chartering for the World Food Programme (WFP) and was carrying essential supplies, including tuna, medical equipment, and telecommunications gear destined for Yemen, at the time of its diversion. Fortunately, all crew members—comprising two Britons, seven Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Croatian, and one Bulgarian—have reported no injuries. The representative characterized the ship's redirection to Saudi Arabia as a procedural formality related to documentation checks, ensuring that the humanitarian mission remains intact despite the vessel's circumstances.