Yemen Monitor/Reuters:
Around 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 vessels that have been stranded for weeks off the port of Ras Issa in Al Hudaidah Governorate, western Yemen, are preparing to unload their cargo and depart, following a ceasefire agreement between the US and the Houthi group.
Despite this development, concerns remain about the safety of navigation, as the Houthi group has affirmed that targets linked to Israel will remain vulnerable to attacks, raising worries among seafarers about continued threats.
The US-led air campaign, which lasted nearly two months, had caused significant damage to infrastructure in the area, including the port of Ras Issa, affecting ship movement and crew safety.
While some ships have begun moving towards the port to unload their cargo, shipping companies remain hesitant to resume voyages through the Red Sea, given the lack of sufficient guarantees for the safety of navigation in the region.
Reuters quoted a Houthi official as saying that under the agreement with Washington, ships should now be able to enter Ras Issa, unload their cargo, and depart without problems.
According to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform, at least one vessel – mostly tankers carrying fuel supplies including LPG – was moving into the port to begin unloading on Thursday.
Despite the reduced risk of collateral damage from airstrikes, seafarers remained concerned about Israeli attacks on Houthi targets in the region.
International Transport Workers’ Federation General Secretary Stephen Cotton said: “The ITF is working urgently to support these crews, but they need more than words; they need a safe passage home.”
