Houthi attacks raise risk assessment questions for Red Sea transits
THE deadly Houthi attack on Greece-operated bulker Eternity C (IMO: 9588249) has prompted a rapid recalibration of risk assessments for ships transiting the Red Sea.
Three seafarers on the Liberian-flagged, 36,830 dwt, bulk carrier were killed in a series of Houthi attacks, the second incident in a day, after seven months without a direct hit on a commercial vessel.
While the Houthis reached a ceasefire with the US in May, the militia has reiterated that it will keep attacking ships it says are connected with Israel.
Both Eternity C and Magic Seas (IMO: 9736169), which was attacked 24 hours prior to the Eternity C strikes, were part of commercial fleets, which have made regular calls to Israeli ports over the past year.
Eternity C’s Athens-based operator, Cosmoship Management, had at least one ship, the 2,556 teu containership HSL Nike (IMO: 9301457) on its way to the Israeli port of Haifa at the same time that Eternity C was heading into a high risk area.
Eternity C had a three-person team of armed private security on board the vessel at the time of the attack. It is standard practice for security teams to deliver risk assessments to the shipowner in advance of any voyage.
Cosmoship Management, was not immediately available to comment on the reported fatalities or the decision to transit the Red Sea despite the high risk Israeli links.
Several security analysts approached by Lloyd’s List, however, have questioned whether shipowners and private security firms, many of which have recently been re-entering the Red Sea after a period of relative calm, may have underestimated the risk potential of such transits.
“This tragic incident again underscores the ongoing need for consistent due diligence and robust risk assessments,” said Ellie Shafik, head of intelligence at maritime risk management firm Vanguard.
“The recent period of relative calm may have led to a sense of reduced urgency across parts of the industry to carry out ownership affiliation checks. However, the pause in Houthi activity did not necessarily indicate a change in underlying intent,” she continued.
Industry bodies and security firms have consistently advised operators to carry out thorough security risk assessments before deciding to transit through areas with known threats.
The standard guidance has remain unchanged, regardless of the recent lull in attacks.
“As long as the conflict in Gaza persists, vessels with affiliations, both perceived and actual, will continue to face elevated risks. Incorporating affiliation checks as a routine part of regional transit planning is a prudent step for all stakeholders,” said Shafik.
Several other security providers, however, have told Lloyd’s List that there remains a disconnect between the risk assessments and the operator’s willingness to accept higher rates.
“Bluntly, the companies providing the armed guards have all acted irresponsibly over the past two years,” explained one maritime security insider.
“Multiple times its their teams on obvious targets. They should be advising their clients not to sail and refusing service, but they make their money off armed guarding.”
While Red Sea traffic had not increased significantly, several major owners and operators that rerouted to avoid the Red Sea and the risk of becoming a target of Houthi aggression had recently started returning to the route.
Transits by Greece-affiliated vessels had notably recovered over the past several months following a relatively slow period, which was spurred by a series of Houthi attacks targeting Greece-linked ships.
Eternity C departed Berbera, Somalia, around 1130 hrs UTC on Sunday, Automatic Identification System data showed, about the same time as the UK Maritime Trade Operations first received the alert from Magic Seas that it was under Houthi fire.
Cosmoship Management-operated vessels have made four port calls in Israel since January 2024, including HSL Nike, which has been to Israel twice already this year and is currently at Haifa anchorage.
Acknowledging the fact that the two attacks in the Red Sea on July 6 and 7 specifically targeted ships operated by companies that had recently made port calls in Israel, Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer with shipping association BIMCO, urged caution among ship operators.
“With at least two seafarers killed this time, these incidents once again highlight the Houthis’ blatant disregard for human life, as they continue to exploit seafarers as pawns in their strategic conflicts. The attacks emphasise the critical need for ship operators to carry out thorough security risk assessments before deciding to transit through areas with known threats,” said Larsen.
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