A British-registered cargo ship, the Rubymar, has tragically sunk in the Gulf of Aden, two weeks after being targeted by Houthi rebels. Yemen’s government reported that the vessel had been drifting and taking on water for several days before its demise, marking the first instance of a ship being sunk by the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen’s Red Sea.
The Rubymar, carrying fertilizers, fell victim to two missiles fired by Houthi rebels while navigating near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Initially, all 24 crew members were rescued after the attack, but subsequent efforts to salvage the vessel proved unsuccessful.
Owned by Golden Adventure Shipping and operated by a Lebanese firm, the Rubymar’s sinking poses a significant environmental threat due to the cargo of ammonium nitrate fertilizer onboard. Yemen’s Prime Minister, Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, described the incident as an “unprecedented environmental disaster,” raising concerns about the potential impact on marine ecosystems.
Greenpeace warned of the adverse effects of an ammonium nitrate spill, emphasizing the risk of oxygen depletion and algae overgrowth, which could devastate marine life in the region. Urgent measures, including a comprehensive cleanup strategy, are deemed essential to mitigate the environmental repercussions of the sinking.
Amidst the tragic event, a Houthi leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, invoked political motives, suggesting that the British government could have prevented the sinking by allowing aid into Gaza. The incident underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, with Houthi attacks on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden prompting retaliatory actions by the US and the UK.
Recent reports from the UK Maritime Trade body indicate further maritime incidents in the area, including a ship being attacked west of Yemen’s port of Mokha and another vessel sinking near the Rubymar’s last known location. As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the Rubymar’s sinking, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the volatile maritime security landscape in the region.
