Drumil Modi, Pune
A British cargo ship called the Rubymar recently sank in the Gulf of Aden, two weeks after being attacked by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The ship was hit by two missiles fired by the rebels while carrying fertilizers. The sinking poses a risk of an environmental disaster due to the cargo, which included ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
The vessel had been taking on water for days before sinking, and the 24 crew members were rescued ten days before the sinking. Initially, there were attempts to tow the ship to Djibouti, but it eventually sank near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The sinking of the cargo ship has led to detours and higher insurance rates put on such vessels.
The Rubymar was flagged in Belize and operated by a Lebanese firm, with its registered owner, Golden Adventure Shipping, based in Southampton, UK. The ship’s sinking is considered an unprecedented environmental disaster by Yemen’s government.
Experts warn of potential environmental impacts, especially if the cargo of ammonium nitrate is released into the sea. Greenpeace highlights the significant effects on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, coastal mangroves, and diverse marine life in the southern Red Sea.
The University of Jordan’s Marine Science Department emphasises the urgent need for a cleanup strategy, as the release of large amounts of fertiliser could lead to excessive algae growth, depleting oxygen and harming regular marine life.
Houthi rebels have been targeting ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, claiming support for Palestinians in Gaza. In response, the US and the UK have conducted attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Recent incidents reported by the UK Maritime Trade body include an attack on a ship west of Yemen’s port of Mokha. The crew evacuated the vessel after the attack. A ship sank in the same region where the Rubymar went down. The US Central Command stated it carried out a self-defence strike against a Houthi missile threatening US aircraft.
Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi implicated the UK government in the Rubymar’s sinking, linking it to aid for Gaza. The rebels vow to continue targeting vessels in the Red Sea until Israel halts its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea have led many shipping companies to avoid using the waterway, which accounts for about 12% of global seaborne trade. Despite a month of air strikes by the US-led naval coalition, Houthi rebels persist in significant attacks, citing their opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza as the reason.