On March 6, 2023, a harrowing missile attack by Houthi forces targeted the cargo ship True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in the tragic death of Dang Duy Kien, a 41-year-old Vietnamese crew member. Pham Van Thanh, 36, another crew member, shared the devastating news with his family in Hai Phong, revealing that Kien suffered severe burns and succumbed after an hour following the strike. The ship had 20 crew members onboard, including four Vietnamese, 15 Filipino, and one Indian, along with armed guards from Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Following the attack, the surviving crew, along with Kien’s body, were transported to a port city in Djibouti. Unfortunately, all personal documents were lost during the chaos. Fortunately, with the assistance of the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and other authorities, the crew was able to obtain new passports quickly and scheduled their return to Vietnam for March 13. Efforts were underway to repatriate Kien’s body to his family for a proper funeral.
Thanh, who has dedicated over a decade to maritime work, primarily on Southeast Asian routes, has been employed by the Hai Phong Marine Services and Trading Investment Company for the past three years. His wife, Pham Thi Mai, remained at home caring for their two children, ages 12 and 8, while he was at sea. She recalled feeling assured by the presence of armed guards on the ship, as well as viewing videos of safety measures being taken, including the installation of barbed wire as they navigated the dangerous waters of the Red Sea. However, she was understandably overwhelmed by the unexpected reality of a missile strike.
The True Confidence, flyinig the Barbados flag but owned by Liberia, was reportedly over 90 kilometers from the Aden port when it was attacked at around 5:20 p.m. The incident marked the first fatality attributed to Houthi attacks on international shipping, an escalation linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, specifically as a response to Israeli operations against Hamas.
As this situation continues to develop, the focus remains on ensuring Kien’s body is returned to his family and supporting the surviving crew members as they recover from their traumatic experience. The incident has raised concerns over safety for maritime workers operating in high-risk regions, accentuating the often-overlooked dangers seafarers face amid geopolitical conflicts.
