Prolonged, close-poximity naval attacks resulting in multiple merchant seafarers killed, wounded and missing have been accompanied by shocking and highly-produced videos of vessels scuttled
The Greek shipmanagement company of Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C has confirmed that one crewmember is presumed dead and 14 remain unaccounted for, with a search operation still underway, after its vessel was attacked at close range and later sunk by Yemen’s Houthi militia forces.
There were 22 crew and three guards onboard Eternity C, Cosmoship Management said, and 10 of those on board have so far been rescued.
“Cosmoship engaged professional responders to undertake a search and rescue operation which is ongoing. They have so far rescued 10 people (eight crew and two guards). One individual is believed to have died and four more have not been seen since the attack on the vessel. Ten other individuals remain unaccounted for,” according to a 10 July update from the shipmanagement company.
The company said it was attempting to verify, through “multiple channels as a matter of priority” reports that some on board the vessel had been taken on board Houthi vessels.
Cosmoship said it is also making attempts to contact the familiies of crew with updates and support and arranging support for crew who have been rescued.
“We will continue to search for survivors until all persons are accounted for. All vessels passing the area have been asked to assist in the search,” the company said.
The US State Department’s ambassador to Yemen and Yemeni Affairs Unit, operating out of the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia released a statement on X claiming that several of the surviving crew from Eternity C had been ’kidnapped’. A Houthi spokesperson on X claimed their navy had rescued several of the ship’s crew, given them medical care and taken them to a “safe location”.
Many countries and international organisations have forcefully condemned the attacks on Eternity C and Magic Seas, with an EU spokesperson telling Riviera in an email “The EU strongly condemns the latest Houthi attack against the merchant vessel Eternity C in the Red Sea, resulting in the sinking of the ship and deplores the tragic death of a number of crew members and the injury of multiple others. This attack is the second one in a few days and against European owned vessels. These attacks are against international law, directly threaten regional peace and stability, global commerce and the freedom of navigation as a global public good and they affect the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and must stop.”
