News

The 'Norderney' was struck by a anti-ship missile fired by the Houthi terrorists in the Gulf of Aden on June 8, 2024, en route from Jebel Ali to Laem Chabang. After the impact, a fire broke out on board, that the crew was able to quickly extinguish. The CENTCOM reported that a second missile also struck the 'Norderney'.

On June 13, 2024, the 'Verbena', en route from Songhkla to Vencia, was attacked by the Houthi terrorists and hit by two projectiles 98 nautical miles east of Aden in the Gulf of Aden. A third projectile caused minor additional damage. A fire resulted onboard. One crew member was seriously injured. The sailor was transferred by an American helicopter for treatment on board a nearby warship, while the crew struggled to bring the fire under control. The ship was still on fire on the morning of June 14.

The body of the crew member, who was killed in the Houthi attack on the 'Tutor', has been trapped in the flooded engine room. It was not immediately clear whether the man died because of a projectile impact or drowned after water poured into the engine room. The vessel became the first ship to be hit by a Houthi sea drone and was subjected to at least one missile attack as well. The bulk carrier has been NUC since the attack and has suffered severe flooding and damage to its engine room. A Houthi spokesman said late on June 12 that the ship was vulnerable to sinking, which was confirmed on June 13, as the engine room was completely submerged. A salvage operation was in full swing.

The Houthi terrorists have for the first time successfully used a surface drone to attack a merchant ship in the Red Sea. The drone hit the 'Tutor', en route to Aqaba, 66 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, in the stern on the morning of June 12, 2024, and punched a hole in the engine room. The impact of the USV caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room and disabled the vessel. Of the 21 crew members of different nationalities on board the ship, one was reported missing, trapped in the flooded engine room after the attack, and was presumed dead. The captain described the surface drone used for the attack as "white, with a length of 5 to 7 metres". Later the ship was also hit by a ballistic missile. Salvage crews and the 'Tutor's crew have so far succeeded in keeping the bulk carrier afloat. The Tsavliris Salvage Group has engaged two oceangoing tugs, the 15,000-bhp 'Gladiator' (built 1977) and the 5,150-bhp 'Hercules' (built 2009), to rush to the scene. Both tugs were subject to US sanctions against Iran, but the operation has obtained special dispensation from US authorities. All proper procedures and steps are being followed.

The 'Seaguardian' came under attack of Houthi terrorists about 82 nautical miles northwest of Al Hudaydah on June 13, 2024. The bulk carrier was en route from Novorossyisk to Port Said. The captain reported an explosion close to the vessel. No casualties were reported, and the vessel continued sailing towards its next port call.