4 Rescued After Jumping Into Sea From Houthi-Hit Ship Eternity C, 11 Still Missing

Four more survivors have been pulled out of the Red Sea after the Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C was hit and sunk by Houthi militants earlier this week.

Maritime security sources confirmed on Thursday that three crew members and a security guard were rescued nearly 48 hours after jumping into the water. So far, 10 people have been saved, but 11 are still missing.

The Eternity C was the second Greek-owned vessel to be sunk this week by the Iran-backed Houthi group. The other vessel, Magic Seas, was also hit days earlier. Fortunately, all its crew members were rescued.

According to security sources, Eternity C was first attacked on Monday by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched from small speedboats. Four of the crew members have lost their lives in that attack.

A second strike took place early Tuesday morning, forcing the remaining crew to abandon ship and jump into the sea. Since Wednesday morning, search operations have been underway. The vessel’s operator, Cosmoship Management, has not made any public statement.

The ship had a total of 25 people on board, including 22 crew members and three guards. Ten survivors have been found so far, eight Filipinos, one Indian national, and one Greek security guard. Maritime sources believe the Houthis are currently holding six of the people who were on board.

A maritime risk official from the UK-based Vanguard Tech said the safety and quick release of the captured crew should be a top priority for all parties. The U.S. Mission in Yemen also accused the Houthis of kidnapping some crew members and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

In a televised message on Wednesday, the Houthi military spokesperson claimed that their navy had rescued some crew members, provided them with medical help, and moved them to a safe location.

The Eternity C sank on Wednesday, following the earlier sinking of Magic Seas. Both ships were flying the Liberian flag and were run by Greek companies. Shipping data showed that some vessels from their fleets had visited Israeli ports in the past year.

The situation has become so dangerous that many vessels sailing through the Red Sea are now broadcasting public messages. Some are declaring that their crew and management are Chinese or that armed guards are on board. One ship even announced over radio that it had no links to Israel.

Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence showed that daily vessel traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, dropped from 43 on July 1 to 32 by July 9, as more shipping firms avoid the area due to safety concerns.

A spokesperson from the Greek maritime risk firm Diaplous, involved in the ongoing rescue effort, said Thursday’s successful rescues have given them renewed motivation. He said it confirmed that their search strategy was effective and that they would keep looking for the missing crew.

Reference: Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News