A Greek-owned vessel, damaged in an attack by Yemeni Houthi militants, has seen its crew evacuated, leaving the ship adrift in the Red Sea, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and a Philippine minister.
The Liberia-flagged coal carrier, Tutor, was involved in the incident near Yemen's Hodeidah port on Wednesday. Hans Leo Cacdac, the Philippines' minister for migrant workers, disclosed plans for salvage operations and the ongoing search for a missing crew member, emphasizing that all 22 crew members are Filipino nationals.
Cacdac underscored the urgency of finding the missing seafarer still aboard the vessel, which sustained severe flooding and damage to its engine room, rendering it immobile. This attack marked the third such incident involving Filipino crews aboard ships targeted by Houthi militants in the past year, resulting in casualties and ongoing abductions.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility for the missile strike on Tutor and another vessel in the Gulf of Aden, exacerbating tensions in the region and affecting maritime operations significantly, as noted by security analysts.
Efforts are underway to coordinate the safe retrieval of crew members and initiate towing operations for the Tutor, which remains stable despite its compromised state.
