Rescuers on Thursday pulled four more survivors from the Red Sea—three sailors and a security guard—nearly two days after Houthi rebels sank the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C, maritime-security officials said. Eleven crew members remain missing.
The Eternity C is the second Greek-operated vessel lost this week after an eight-month lull in Houthi attacks. The Iran-aligned group struck the ship with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades on Monday, then launched a second salvo Tuesday that forced the 22-member crew and three guards overboard. Four people are feared dead, which would mark the first fatalities in the corridor since June 2024.
So far, 10 survivors—eight Filipinos, one Indian sailor, and one Greek guard—have been rescued, including four who endured nearly 48 hours in the water. The Houthis claim to be holding several crew members “for their safety,” but the U.S. Mission in Yemen has accused the militants of kidnapping and demanded their immediate release.
The UK-based Seafarers’ Charity condemned the attacks: “These are blameless victims who were simply doing their job. Seafarers should not be forced into the firing line.”
Shipping and Insurance Impact
The sinking revives the Houthis’ campaign—begun in late 2023—to target ships linked, even tangentially, to Israel. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Thursday that the group’s ban on Israel-connected shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea “was never cancelled” and that this week’s attacks punished violators.
Insurance costs for Red Sea transits have more than doubled since the strikes, and some underwriters are refusing cover. Daily traffic through Bab al-Mandab fell to 32 vessels on 9 July from 43 a week earlier, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Some ships are now broadcasting messages such as “Chinese crew—no Israeli links” or announcing armed guards on board.
Search operations continue, with Greek risk firm Diaplous saying Thursday’s rescues “give us the courage to keep looking.” Yet with 11 still unaccounted for, the incident underscores how fragile security remains on one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
