The sinking of the Rubymar, which was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and carried a cargo of fertilizer and leaked fuel, has caused concern for ecological damage in the Red Sea. The persistent Houthi attacks have disrupted traffic in the waterway, affecting cargo and energy shipments from Asia to Europe. This disruption could lead to detours and higher insurance rates for vessels, potentially impacting global inflation and aid shipments to the region.
The Belize-flagged Rubymar was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile on February 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. After drifting northward, the ship eventually sank due to stormy weather conditions. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the sinking, but the Rubymar’s Beirut-based manager could not be reached for comment.
Yemen’s exiled government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, described the Rubymar sinking as an “unprecedented environmental disaster.” Despite the Houthis falsely claiming the ship sank immediately after the attack, they did not acknowledge the ship’s sinking. Greenpeace also expressed concerns about potential environmental impacts from the sinking, urging immediate action to prevent further damage to the marine ecosystem.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, with the Houthis controlling the capital Sanaa, has led to a stalemated war with the Saudi-led coalition. The rebels have targeted several ships in the Red Sea as part of their campaign over the Israel-Hamas war, despite international efforts to intervene. The Houthis have insisted on continuing their attacks until Israel ceases its operations in Gaza, leading to heightened tensions in the region.