Greek Ship Attacked in Red Sea Arrives in Aden with Cargo
Sea Champion’s Arrival in Aden
The Greek-flagged bulk cargo vessel Sea Champion arrived in the southern Yemeni port of Aden on Tuesday after being attacked in the Red Sea. The attack appeared to have been a mistaken missile strike by Houthi militia, according to shipping and military sources.
Escalating Shipping Risks
Shipping risks are escalating due to repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait by the Iran-aligned Houthis since November. Despite retaliatory strikes by U.S. and British forces, the attacks continue to pose a threat to maritime traffic.
Attack on Sea Champion
The Sea Champion, ferrying corn from Argentina to Aden, was attacked twice on Monday. Although the vessel sustained a damaged window, no crew members were injured, as reported by Greek shipping ministry sources.
Unloading in Aden and Hodeidah
The vessel was unloading part of its cargo of some 9,229 tonnes of corn in Aden before heading to the northern Yemeni port of Hodeidah, controlled by the Houthis, to discharge the remaining load of some 31,000 tonnes.
Assurances from Houthis
A port source in Aden stated that the attack on the vessel was a mistake. Additionally, a port source in Hodeidah, informed by the Houthis, claimed that the attack was not intentional. However, Houthi officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Concerns over Shipping
Despite no sunken ships or casualties from the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, concerns are mounting over the safety of commercial ships, including the fate of the Rubymar vessel, which was hit by missiles in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday.
International Response
The European Union has launched a naval mission to the Red Sea to safeguard freedom of navigation, while France has provided navy escorts for some shipping traffic. The U.S. military’s Central Command has also conducted strikes on various targets to protect navigational rights and international waters.
The shipping industry faces new perils, including the possibility of sea mines being deployed, according to maritime security sources.
