Red Sea shipping crisis worsens rapidly as attacks escalate

The situation in the Red Sea has escalated dramatically with repeated attacks on ships and retaliatory air strikes on Yemeni ports, putting the shipping industry at its greatest risk this year.

Israel-Bombs-Houthi-Port

Israeli airstrikes hit Yemeni port (Source: PTI)

The security situation in the Red Sea has taken a turn for the worse in the past 48 hours, with repeated attacks on commercial vessels and Israeli air strikes targeting several Yemeni ports.

Yesterday, the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C, operated by Greek company Cosmoship Management, was attacked by a coordinated attack by drones, speedboats and small arms fire about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The armed security team on board returned fire, but two crew members were seriously injured and two others remain missing. The Eternity C was left adrift after its engines were disabled and its communications systems were disrupted following an attack on its bridge.

According to maritime security firm Ambrey, the vessel's profile matched the Houthis' target criteria. The attack followed a similar attack the previous day on the Magic Seas, also in the Red Sea, marking a worrying escalation in the group's maritime campaign.

Simultaneously with the attacks on the vessels, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes as part of Operation Black Flag on the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Saleef. Israel said the strikes were retaliatory in response to continued Houthi aggression against its territory and maritime interests.

Satellite imagery and on-the-ground reports confirmed extensive damage to port infrastructure. The Saleef power plant – vital to the port’s flour mills and grain silos – is believed to have been damaged, hampering the unloading of bulk carriers. Two Barbados-flagged bulk carriers are believed to have been damaged by the blast, although there are no confirmed crew casualties.

The IDF also attacked the Galaxy Leader, a car carrier seized by the Houthis in November 2023 and believed to have been retrofitted with radar equipment to monitor maritime traffic. The ship was anchored at Ras Isa at the time.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack on the Magic Seas, alleging that the ship was sunk – although this has not been independently verified. If confirmed, this would be the third ship confirmed to have been lost since the militant group began its campaign against commercial vessels in November 2023 in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Ambrey and UKMTO advice now advises commercial vessels in the area to minimise deck movements, designate safe assembly points above the waterline, and avoid approaching moving vessels without AIS. With multiple attacks, confirmed casualties, and damage to major ports, the Red Sea shipping industry is facing its most volatile period this year.

In a rare bit of good news, India’s Directorate General of Maritime Affairs has confirmed the release of more than 150 Indian seafarers stranded at Ras Isa Port since December. All 11 ships have now left after a lengthy detention by Houthi forces, who enforced a blockade on unloading cargo following an Israeli airstrike on the port in April.

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