Houthi fighters in Yemen say they have carried out an attack on the cargo ship Rubymar in the Gulf of Aden and the ship is now in danger of sinking.
The action represents a step up in its campaign to disrupt global shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement that the ship's crew was safe.
Attack details
According to the statement, the Houthis also shot down a US drone in the port city of Hodeidah. “The ship was badly hit, causing it to come to a complete standstill. Due to the significant damage, it is now at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Aden,” Sarea said.
The maritime security company LSSSAPU, which is servicing the ship, reported that the Rubymar was damaged by the firing of two missiles from Yemen, but the crew managed to evacuate the ship.
Impact on maritime transport
These attacks have led to growing security concerns. Houthi forces allied with Iran have carried out multiple drone and missile attacks since midNovember against international merchant ships in the Red Sea and Bab alMandab Strait, a route that accounts for about 12% of global shipping traffic.
In response to these incidents, several companies decided to stop traveling across the Red Sea and opt for a longer and more expensive route around Africa. US and British warplanes carried out retaliatory strikes across Yemen.
Impact on employees
Maritime workers remain in the firing line and have already signed agreements banning them from sailing on ships traveling through the Red Sea and receiving double pay when entering highrisk zones.
So far, no attacked ship has sunk or a crew member has been killed. Yet seafarers are innocent victims of the ongoing aggression against global shipping, remaining in potentially deadly conditions as the shipping community continues to come under attack.
Economic consequences
These attacks caused war risk insurance premiums to rise and affected liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. “It's just a matter of taking longer to get there. But it won't get to the point where we have to stop production because there is no ship. We are doing well,” said Saad alKaabi, CEO of QatarEnergy.
The attacks also prompted some of the world's largest LNG exporters, such as QatarEnergy, to halt shipments through the Red Sea for security reasons.
Impact on global security
Houthi attacks increase risk and costs to the already strained global shipping system. The militants, who control Yemen's most populous regions, have targeted ships with trade ties to the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel, according to insurance and shipping sources.
Therefore, shipping companies must weigh the increased costs and travel times against the risk to their ships and, above all, the safety of the crew on board.