Greece deploys salvage vessel to Red Sea amid renewed Houthi
Greece Sends Rescue Vessel Amid Houthi Attacks
In a decisive response to a surge in maritime assaults by Yemen’s Houthi militants, Greece has dispatched a robust salvage vessel to the Red Sea. This action follows the alarming sinkings of two Greek-operated cargo ships, prompting the Greek shipping minister, Vassilis Kikilias, to announce emergency measures aimed at protecting seafarers and securing vital global trade routes.
Deployment of the Giant
The Greek salvage vessel, named Giant, has been provided by the Hellenic Association of Tugboat Owners and is manned by a crew of 14 Greeks. This strategic move comes after the recent sinkings of two Liberia-flagged bulk carriers: Magic Seas and Eternity C. Both vessels were targeted earlier this month by Houthi forces in a series of aggressive maritime operations. Fortunately, all crew members from Magic Seas were rescued. However, the incident involving Eternity C has raised significant concerns within the maritime community, as five crew members are feared dead, while another ten are reportedly being held captive by the militants.
The escalation in Houthi attacks marks a troubling trend, with reports indicating that over 100 maritime strikes were executed between November 2023 and December 2024. The Houthis have framed these operations as a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Notably, the European Union’s naval mission, Aspides, which is responsible for maintaining maritime security in the Red Sea, had no assets available in the region during either of the sinking incidents.
Incident Involving Merinos Livestock
Adding to the tension, the Greek-managed vessel Merinos Livestock was briefly detained near Yemen just yesterday. The 49-year-old cargo ship, carrying livestock and sailing from Bossaso, Somalia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, went dark after shutting off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder. This action may have prompted its interception by what is believed to be the Yemeni Coast Guard. Reports suggest that a wooden boat fired small arms at the Merinos Livestock, forcing it to divert toward Mocha port. Fortunately, the vessel was later released without facing any formal charges.
As maritime threats continue to grow in the region, Greece’s proactive measures aim to safeguard its seafarers and uphold the integrity of international shipping routes.
