As Houthis sink second vessel, shipping industry calls for Red Sea protection

Leaders of the global shipping industry on Wednesday called for more action to be taken against Houthi aggression toward commercial vessels in the Red Sea, after a second cargo ship sank due to an attack by Yemen’s Iran-backed militia.

The world’s top shipping associations demanded in a statement “for states with influence in the region to safeguard our innocent seafarers and for the swift de-escalation of the situation in the Red Sea.”

“We have heard the condemnation and appreciate the words of support, but we urgently seek action to stop the unlawful attacks on these vital workers and this vital industry,” the shipping associations said in the statement.

On Wednesday, a shipping salvage firm confirmed that the M/V Tutor, a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk tanker had sunk after being hit by two Houthi cruise missiles on June 12. The attack killed one crew member from the Philippines.

The M/V Tutor is the second ship sunk by the Houthis. In February, the Houthis struck a UK-owned, Belize-flagged vessel, the Rubymar. The ship sank in early March after its crew was forced to abandon it. The Rubymar was carrying fertilizer and previously leaked fuel, risking ecological damage to the Red Sea.

Another recent Houthi strike on June 13 in the Gulf of Aden left a crew member from the Ukrainian-owned cargo ship Verbena severely injured.

The shipping associations said in their statement that the industry was “appalled and deeply saddened” at the news of the Tutor sinking and the Filipino crew member being killed.

The Houthis began attacking Red Sea commercial vessels in November 2023, saying the attacks were a direct response to the Israel-Hamas war. Initially, the attacks started with ships going to and from Israel, but they later extended to include other vessels, including those flying the flags of Israeli allies. Since then, Houthi militants have launched more than 70 attacks, according to maritime data.

On June 15, the US military conducted a series of strikes on Houthi radar sites in response to the attack on the Tutor.

Since February, the United States and the United Kingdom have been launching strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen intended to weaken the capabilities of Houthi rebels. However, the strikes have done little to deter the militia.

Source » al-monitor.com