Drone, skiff attacks in Red Sea leave two crew members wounded, two missing

Two crew members were seriously injured and two others remain missing after a Greek-managed bulk carrier was attacked off the coast of Yemen on July 7, amid escalating maritime threats in the Red Sea.

The Eternity C, a Liberia-flagged vessel operated by Greek company Cosmoship Management, came under assault approximately 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The attack involved sea drones and four skiffs carrying assailants armed with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), according to the EU’s maritime protection mission, Operation Aspides, Caliber.Az reports per The Guardian.

The vessel, carrying 22 crew members—21 Filipinos and one Russian—suffered significant damage to its bridge and communications systems. It was left adrift following the incident. Cosmoship Management confirmed that two crew members were seriously wounded and two were unaccounted for. Three armed guards were reportedly on board at the time of the attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault. However, the incident occurred just hours after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants claimed a separate attack on another Greek-operated bulk carrier, the MV Magic Seas, also in the Red Sea.

The Magic Seas, which was transporting iron and fertilisers from China to Türkiye, was struck by eight skiffs, missiles, and four uncrewed surface vessels, according to Houthi statements. The crew of 19 was forced to abandon ship after the vessel began taking on water. All crew members were later rescued by a passing ship and safely arrived in Djibouti.

Although the Houthis claimed to have sunk the Magic Seas, this has not been independently verified. The ship’s managers, Stem Shipping and Allseas Marine, reported severe damage, including fires in the forepeak and flooding in the engine room and two holds. The vessel also lost all electrical power.

An official from Operation Aspides had earlier warned of a potential explosion risk near the vessel. The Magic Seas had not received any prior threat warnings, according to Stem Shipping. Despite carrying no cargo linked to Israel, Allseas Marine’s fleet had reportedly made port calls in Israel within the past year—a factor that may have contributed to the vessel being targeted, said UK-based maritime risk firm Vanguard Tech.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel responded on Monday with airstrikes on Houthi positions—the first in nearly a month. A ceasefire deal reached between the U.S. and the Houthis in May did not include Israel.

“These attacks are putting innocent seafarers at extreme risk,” said John Xylas, chair of the dry bulk shipping association Intercargo. “They are simply doing their jobs and ensuring the flow of global trade. No one at sea should ever face such violence.”

By Sabina Mammadli