Red Sea rescue falls to private security in the absence of any naval assets

AS THE bulk carrier Eternity C (IMO: 9588249) finally sunk at 0750 hrs local time on Wednesday after two days of repeated Houthi attacks, a search and rescue operation was launched to find the 19 missing crew unaccounted for in the water.

That effort fell to two private security firms operating in the region, using a regional response and supply vessel, more usually used to support floating armouries that supply the flow of armed guards on ships transiting the high risk area.

Two days after a renewed a campaign by the Iran-aligned Yemeni fighters that has now sunk two ships this week, there were no naval vessels in the region to help defend the ships or assist with the search and rescue efforts.

The EU’s operation Aspides, which is a “purely defensive” mission to increase maritime surveillance in the region, provide escort to merchant vessels, and defend against strikes, has taken a co-ordination role in the efforts.

Aspides has no naval assets available in the region, a spokesperson for the naval operation confirmed.

While the precise location of naval vessels is not revealed due to operational security concerns, Lloyd’s List understands that the two operational assets for Aspides were positioned near Egypt and the west coast of India when the Houthis first launched an attack on Monday.

A spokesperson for Aspides said that the naval command was leading the “co-ordination of the international response, by involving and synchronising all willing actors in the area, since no local [Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre] has taken the lead”.

While the Red Sea has been a long standing security hotspot requiring the presence of multiple international naval operations, the recent elevation of risk levels in the Middle East Gulf had seen the few remaining naval ships relocate nearer to Iran.

Private security teams operating in the Red Sea told Lloyd’s List that the absence of any naval support beyond co-ordination efforts was “surprising”, however several suggested that the overlapping mandate and rules of engagement for some navies may have prevented them from engaging with the Houthis.

Industry associations have stopped short of openly criticising the lack of naval support, but a joint industry statement from all major shipowner representative bodies pointedly noted that “this tragedy illuminates the need for nations to maintain robust support in protecting shipping and vital sea lanes”.

“We urge that the international standards of freedom of navigation and the sanctity of human life are recognised, upheld and defended,” the statement continued.

The lack of naval assets available to Operation Aspides has long been a concern within the operation and across the industry.

Operation Aspides was launched in February 2024 when Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, Commander of EU Naval Forces Operation Aspides, was given just four days to draft the operational strategy for an unprecedented EU naval operation that has struggled from day one to get the required support from governments.

His original assessment stated that he would need a minimum of 10 naval ships, six of which would need to be based in the Red Sea, alongside extensive air support.

Aspides has never exceeded an average of three naval vessels with no air support available.

Several of the naval vessels in rotation are old with limited and ageing technology on board. The operational zone that Aspides is supposed to cover entails the entire Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the Middle East Gulf and also a huge part of the northwest Indian Ocean.

“I’m not a magician,” Gryparis told Lloyd’s List back in December 2024. “Give me the tools, and I will provide you with the results, but what we have achieved with what we have is quite remarkable.”

While Aspides said on Tuesday that it was “co-ordinating with European authorities and regional stakeholders in order to find a positive solution”, it remains unclear what response, if any, was offered by regional governments to engage in support.

“Aspides do not wish to comment on other actors actions (Italians, French, Koreans, Chinese, Russians, [Combined Maritime Forces]),” explained an e-mailed statement to Lloyd’s List from Operation Aspides on Wednesday.

Greece’s shipping ministry responded to the attacks on the Greek-owned vessels with a call aired at this week’s International Maritime Organization council meeting for countries to work together to “restore law and order” in the region.

The ministry also said it was in “constant operational contact” with the command of Operation Aspides and had issued detailed guidelines and operations to shipping companies for “the safest possible passage through the area”.

It had reached out to Greece–owned ships flying third-country flags, as well as Greece-flagged vessels. The “absolute priority” was protecting Greek seafarers, it said.

The new explosion of violence in the Red Sea comes just a few days after command of the EU naval force at sea was taken over by Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo of the Italian Navy.

Operational command remains under Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis of the Hellenic Navy and Greece reaffirmed its strong support for the operation last week, when the country’s deputy defence minister, Athanasios Davakis, paid a visit to EUNavfor Aspides’ headquarters in Larissa.

Meanwhile, the private security initiative to find the missing 19 crew from Eternity C was set to continue on Wednesday as long as daylight permitted.

The search and rescue operation was being led by British security firm Ambrey and Cyprus headquartered firm Diaplous Group.

The search and rescue operation had got underway in the early hours of July 9, despite the presence of Houthi skiffs still in the area.

A statement issued on Wednesday evening claimed that they had “rescued” an unidentified number of the ship’s crew and had transported them to a safe location.

Eternity C was first attacked on Monday afternoon, with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speed boats. Lifeboats were destroyed during the raid and by Tuesday morning the vessel was adrift and listing.

As of Wednesday evening six crew members had been recovered from the sea by Ambrey and Diapolos. Five of them were Filipino and one was Indian.

Nineteen crew members were missing, however it remains unclear how many might have been taken ashore by the Houthis.

The crew of Eternity C consisted of 22 members with a three-member security team.