Second vessel attack signals renewed threat in Red Sea

Yemen-based Houthi militants launched a drone and speedboat attack on a bulk carrier off the coast of Yemen—the second such incident in a single day, breaking months of relative calm.

IMAGE: Greek-owned bulk carrier Eternity C. Vesselfinder

The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C, operated by Greek shipping company Cosmoship Management, was attacked in the southern Red Sea by drones and speedboats, about 50 nautical miles southwest of the port of Hodeidah. The ship’s control centre was hit during the assault, and its telecommunications systems were disrupted, according to maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic.

An official from the EU naval force Aspides reported that four speedboats launched at least four rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel, according to a Reuters report. The attack resulted in the deaths of three crew members and injuries to two others.

This incident occurred just a day after another Greek-operated ship, Magic Seas, was struck.

While the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack on Eternity C, the US government condemned “the unprovoked Houthi terror attack on the civilian cargo vessels MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C in the Red Sea, which resulted in the tragic loss of three mariners.”

“After several months of calm, the resumption of deplorable attacks in the Red Sea constitutes a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation,” Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), commented on the situation.

By Tuhin Roy

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