The crew of a Greek-owned ship damaged in an attack by Houthi militants in Yemen have been evacuated and the abandoned vessel is drifting in the Red Sea, according to the UK Maritime Trade Office (UKMTO).
One crew member remains missing aboard the Liberian-flagged coal carrier Tutor after it was attacked near Yemen’s port of Hodeidah on Wednesday, causing severe flooding and damage to its engine rooms, leaving the vessel unable to steer, according to Philippine authorities.
The Iran-allied Houthis claimed responsibility for missile attacks on the Tutar and another ship, the Verbena, in the Gulf of Aden in recent days. British security firm Ambry said their attacks had “become significantly more effective” and had damaged two other ships in the past week.
The Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden since November, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war. In separate attacks, they sank one boat and seized another, killing three crew members.
“This situation cannot continue,” Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, said in a statement.
Most of the Tutor’s 22 crew members are Filipinos, Department of Migrant Workers and Migrants Secretary Hans Cacdac said at a press conference in Manila.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Philippine authorities were coordinating with UKMTO to transport the crew to Djibouti and bring them home.
Maritime sources said the missing crew members were believed to be trapped in the engine room.
“We are still searching for the sailor who was on board that vessel,” Kacduc said. “We are praying that we can find him.”
The ship’s operator, Athens-based Everend Shipping, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Tsavrilis Salvage Group has been tasked with towing the ship, which is loaded with 80,000 tonnes of coal, a source familiar with the matter told the news agency. The project involves two ships, the first of which is due to arrive in Chutar on Monday morning and the second on Tuesday evening.
The Houthi air and naval operations have disrupted global shipping, causing cascading delays and costs through supply chains, with U.S. intelligence reports affecting at least 65 countries and major energy and shipping companies including Shell, BP, Maersk and COSCO.
Among the most high-profile attacks was when the Houthis raided and hijacked a vehicle carrier called the Galaxy Leader in November, later opening it up as a tourist attraction for promotional purposes.
In March, the bulk carrier Rubimaa, loaded with thousands of tons of fertiliser, sank in the Red Sea after its hull was damaged by a Houthi missile attack.
Intercargo, which represents dry cargo shipowners, called on countries to strengthen maritime security in the region.
“We call on all parties involved to immediately put an end to these deliberate and targeted attacks against innocent sailors,” the statement said.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
