According to foreign media reports, the search and rescue operation for survivors of the MV Tutor has been called off, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the ship’s owner.
So far, 10 crew members have been rescued, while six others are believed to have been taken hostage, and nine have been confirmed or presumed dead.
On Monday, July 7, local time, the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier was first attacked approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Hodeidah, Yemen. The assailants used maritime drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speedboats. It is believed that four people were killed in the initial attack.
This incident marks the first fatalities in the region since June 2024 and the deadliest attack since the Houthi offensive began in November 2023. After a second attack on Tuesday morning, the crew was forced to abandon ship and jump into the water. The vessel ultimately sank on Wednesday.
“The MV Tutor was carrying a shipment for the UN World Food Programme to Berbera, Somalia, and was sailing empty to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for refueling when it was attacked,” said Cosmos Marine Management in a statement on July 10.
Among the 10 survivors rescued on Thursday morning were eight Filipino crew members, one Indian crew member, and one Greek security officer. Four of them had been floating in the water for nearly 48 hours before being rescued.
On Wednesday, July 9, a Houthi military spokesperson stated in a televised address that “the Yemeni Navy responded by rescuing some of the ship’s crew, providing them with medical treatment, and transferring them to a safe location.”
Just days before the attack on the MV Tutor, the Houthis also attacked and sank another vessel named the MV Magic Seas. Both ships were Liberian-flagged and operated by Greek companies.
All crew members aboard the MV Magic Seas were rescued before the ship sank.
Shipping data analysis shows that sister ships from both fleets had called at Israeli ports in the past year.
At the time of the attack, the MV Tutor had 22 crew members and three security personnel on board.
“We understand that the Houthis have taken some surviving crew members, and we are prioritizing verification of this information through multiple channels,” said Cosmos Marine Management. The company added that they are “working to contact the families of the crew” and “arranging support, including trauma counseling, for the rescued crew.”
The Houthi attacks are part of a campaign launched in November 2023, which has targeted over 100 vessels in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict.
The sinking of the MV Magic Seas and the MV Tutor marks the third and fourth vessel losses in this campaign to date, with the death toll now rising to 13.
Data shows that the MV Tutor was built in 2012 with a deadweight tonnage of 36,830 tons.
Compiled and edited by Shipping Online.
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