Sinking Cargo Ship Hit by Houthi Missile Turns into Environmental Disaster

A cargo ship hit by a Houthi ballistic missile has caused an 18-mile-long oil slick in the Red Sea.

The M/V Rubymar is a Belize-flagged vessel registered in Britain. It is anchored and continues to take on water, said U.S Central Command.

Video Credits: Channel 4 News 

The ship was loaded with 41,000 tonnes of fertiliser when it was targeted by a missile on Monday, fired from Yemen.

Per U.S officials, the possibility of more Houthi attacks and the security conditions in the Red Sea make it difficult to safely get the vessel and tow it to a nearby port.

Ships that were attacked earlier by Houthis could continue on their journey; however, this was not the case with Rubymar, the first vessel to sustain major damages.

Per the U.S Central Command, Rubymar sent a distress call after it was attacked, and a coalition warship and a merchant vessel came for its assistance. It was also the first time that crew members of the vessel were forced to evacuate their ship.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said that the ship poses a risk of an environmental hazard with all the fuel and fertiliser it is carrying. She added that the Houthis are creating environmental problems in their backyard.

The Houthi attacks have continued for months now, and despite strikes on their bases in Yemen by the United States and the United Kingdom, it is not clear how much weaponry they possess to carry out attacks in the future.

The Group targeted another vessel on Monday, the bulk carrier M/V Sea Champion. It is U.S.-owned and flies the Greek Flag. It was carrying grain to Yemen, and the ship has delivered humanitarian aid to Yemen 11 times in the last five years.

References: CNN, Times of India

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Source: Maritime Shipping News