Yemen Monitor / Newsroom/ Agencies:
Maritime security sources said rescuers pulled three more crew members and a security guard alive from the Red Sea on Thursday, two days after the Yemeni Houthi group sank the Greek-owned ship Eternity Sea. The sources also said the Houthis are holding some of the crew members who remain missing.
The Eternity Sea is the second vessel sunk by the Houthis this week. These attacks—carried out, according to the group, in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war—have ended months of relative calm off Yemen’s coast near the Red Sea’s entrance, a crucial global waterway for oil and goods transport.
Several shipping companies have suspended operations in the Red Sea due to fears of attacks. Security sources said the Houthis are believed to be holding six of the 22 crew members, along with three security guards.
“We remain deeply concerned for the safety of the crew members being held by the Houthis, as well as those still missing,” said Elly Shafiq, Head of Intelligence at the UK-based marine risk firm Vanguard Tech.
“The safety and prompt release of the crew must be the top priority for all involved parties,” she added.
The Eternity Sea was first attacked Monday afternoon by drone boats and rocket-propelled grenades launched from fast boats.
Four people are believed to have died, with security sources confirming their deaths in the attacks. If verified, these would be the first fatalities from Red Sea ship attacks since June 2024.
Following a second attack on Tuesday morning, the crew was forced to abandon ship. Rescue efforts have been ongoing since Wednesday morning.
Cosmoship Management, the vessel’s operator, did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The total number of rescued individuals so far stands at 10, including eight Filipino crew members, one Indian, and one Greek security guard. The individuals rescued Thursday had spent over 48 hours in the water.
“This gives us more courage to continue searching for the missing, as requested by the Greek ship operator, and confirms that the search plan was sound,” said Nikos Georgopoulos, an official at Greece-based Diaplous Maritime Risk Management.
The U.S. mission in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping several surviving crew members of the Eternity Sea and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
On Wednesday, the Houthi military spokesman said in a televised speech that the group’s naval forces had rescued some crew members, provided them with medical care, and transferred them to a safe location.
A Perilous Passage
The Eternity Sea sank on Wednesday, days after the Houthis targeted and sank the Tutor Magic Seas—reviving a campaign that began in November 2023 and has involved attacks on over 100 vessels.
Both vessels attacked this week were flying the Liberian flag and operated by Greek companies. All crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued before it sank.
An analysis of shipping data revealed that some targeted vessels had previously docked at Israeli ports.
According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the number of daily ship transits through Bab al-Mandab Strait dropped to 32 on July 9, down from 43 on July 1.
Ship tracking data from MarineTraffic showed that the situation has become so dangerous that many vessels sailing on Thursday were broadcasting public messages stating they had Chinese crews or onboard armed guards.
One ship broadcast a message declaring it had no connection to Israel.
