Two crew members have been seriously wounded and two others are missing after a Greek-operated bulk carrier was attacked off the coast of Yemen on Monday, marking yet another escalation in maritime hostilities in the Red Sea.
The Liberia-flagged Eternity C, managed by Greek company Cosmoship Management, came under assault around 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. According to officials from the EU naval mission Operation Aspides, the vessel was targeted by sea drones and four speedboats carrying armed individuals who launched at least four rocket-propelled grenades. The ship’s bridge was struck, and its communications systems were disabled.
The vessel, which had not requested naval escort, was left adrift following the attack. Onboard were 22 crew members, 21 Filipinos and one Russian, as well as three armed security guards. Cosmoship Management confirmed that two crew members sustained serious injuries while two others remain unaccounted for.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday’s assault. However, it came just hours after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants claimed responsibility for a separate attack on Sunday on another Greek-managed vessel, the MV Magic Seas. The group said they had sunk the ship, although this claim remains unverified.
The Magic Seas, also flying the Liberian flag, was attacked off southwest Yemen with gunfire, rocket-propelled grenades, missiles, and four uncrewed surface vessels. The 19 crew members, forced to abandon ship as it took on water, were rescued by a passing vessel and have since arrived safely in Djibouti.
Michael Bodouroglou, a representative of Stem Shipping, one of Magic Seas’ commercial managers, said there was no independent confirmation that the vessel had sunk, although it had suffered severe flooding in the engine room and cargo holds, with fires also reported at the bow.
Operation Aspides had earlier warned of a possible explosion near the distressed ship.
These latest attacks come amid heightened tensions in the region, driven by the Israel-Hamas conflict that began in October 2023. The Houthis have launched repeated strikes against Israeli targets and international shipping, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In response, Israel has resumed strikes on Houthi positions, launching its first such operation in nearly a month on Monday. A ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthis in May did not include Israel, allowing for the continuation of hostilities involving Israeli-affiliated vessels.
Despite Magic Seas carrying iron and fertilisers from China to Turkey, seemingly unrelated to the conflict, its commercial operator Allseas Marine had made calls to Israeli ports in the past year. This, according to the UK-based maritime risk firm Vanguard Tech, likely placed it at high risk of being targeted.
“These factors put the Magic Seas at an extreme risk of being targeted,” said Ellie Shafik, Vanguard Tech’s head of intelligence.
John Xylas, chair of the dry bulk shipping association Intercargo, condemned the attacks, calling for greater protection for seafarers. “These are innocent people, simply doing their jobs, keeping global trade moving. No one at sea should ever face such violence,” he said.
Red Sea becoming perilous for business
The Red Sea, a vital maritime corridor linking Europe and Asia, has become increasingly perilous for commercial shipping.
