Crew Evacuated After Houthi Attack; Greek Ship Adrift at Sea

"British Maritime Trade Operations" reports that the crew of the Greek ship targeted by Iran-backed Houthis has been evacuated, leaving the ship adrift at sea. Meanwhile, Philippine officials announced on Friday, June 15, that one of the crew members of the "Tutour" ship is still missing. The Philippine government stated on Friday afternoon that the crew of this cargo ship, which was damaged in the Houthi attack, would be rescued within the next day. The Greek vessel, flagged in Liberia and carrying a coal cargo, was attacked on Wednesday, June 14, near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea. According to Philippine officials, water has entered the vessel and its engine room, rendering it immobile. The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for the missile and naval attack on this vessel. The Greek ship "Tutour" suffered "severe damage" in the Houthi attack. The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization emphasized on Friday that the ongoing Houthi attacks in the waters around Yemen should not continue. According to a source familiar with the situation in an interview with Reuters, a rescue group for maritime cargo has sent two ships to the area to evacuate 80,000 tons of coal from the "Tutour". One of these ships is expected to arrive on Tuesday morning and the other on Tuesday evening. The organization "Intercargo", representing cargo ship owners, issued a statement urging governments to enhance maritime security in the region near Yemen. Earlier, British Maritime Trade Operations announced that a small boat measuring 5 to 7 meters in length and colored white collided with the hull of the "Tutour" cargo ship. Two Greek shipping sources also stated that the ship was damaged in a deliberate attack and added that water had entered the engine room of the vessel. Houthi attacks on vessels in international shipping routes in Bab el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden began in November. They claim these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and will continue until a ceasefire is established. Hans Kakdak, head of the Philippine Overseas Workers Administration, announced on Friday at a press conference in Manila that most of the 22 crew members of this vessel are citizens of the Philippines. Mr. Kakdak quoted the ship's captain before the rescue operation, stating that the crew members are safe and have enough food. He added, "We are currently searching for and determining the fate of one crew member who is missing, and we pray to find him." Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the President of the Philippines, also stated that the country intends to transfer the Filipino crew members of this vessel to Djibouti and from there to Manila in cooperation with "British Maritime Trade Operations". International shipping security sources indicated that the missing individual may be trapped in the engine room of the vessel. The Greek company owning the ship did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on this matter. The Houthis have sunk one vessel and seized another in their attacks on international shipping routes. In separate attacks, three crew members have also been killed. The Houthis claim that their attacks target vessels associated with Israel or those involved in maritime transport for this country, but several vessels that have been attacked had no connection to Israel. Due to these attacks, a significant percentage of vessel traffic from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal has been halted, and shipping companies transporting cargo from Asia and the Middle East to European and South American ports prefer to bypass the African continent.