UK Owned Ship Sinks After Attack By Houthi Rebels in Red Sea Waters

A British registered cargo vessel that was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels two weeks ago has now sunk in the Red Sea, according to officials from Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The UK owned ship Rubymar came under missile fire from the Iran-backed Houthi movement on February 7th while transiting through the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The ship was left drifting and taking on water after being damaged in the missile attack.

For over a week, the 24 crew members of the Rubymar were reported to have been rescued as the vessel drifted while gradually sinking lower in the water. Images from February 21st showed the stern of the ship fully submerged although it was still afloat. Attempts were being made to tow the ship to Djibouti for repairs but it soon became clear that the UK owned ship was beyond saving and at risk of fully sinking. Yemeni authorities have now confirmed that the Rubymar has gone down completely in the Red Sea.

Looming Environmental Threat

The sinking of the Rubymar poses a major environmental threat according to experts, as the ship was reported to be carrying a cargo of ammonium nitrate fertilizers. A leak or spill from the large quantity of chemicals on board risks triggering an “environmental catastrophe” in the sensitive marine ecosystems of the southern Red Sea area. Coral reefs, coastal mangroves and diverse marine life could be severely impacted if the fertilizers are released from the sunken wreck. Immediate action will be needed to assess and contain any pollution from the submerged UK owned ship.

With the Rubymar now lying at the bottom of the Red Sea, attention turns to how this latest attack by Houthi rebels will impact shipping in the critical global trade route. Major shipping companies have already been avoiding transits through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden due to the increasing risks posed by the Iran-backed group targeting commercial vessels. The sinking of the UK owned ship Rubymar after coming under missile attack is likely to further damage trade and transport links vital to Yemen as well as many other countries.