The US
Central Command (Centcom) said that two anti-ship cruise missiles struck the
2008-built 11,402 dwt Verbena, which is owned by Ukraine-based
Donbasstransitservice and operated by Poland-based Dtschart Sp.
The US warship USS Philippine Sea
evacuated the injured seafarer to a partner force ship nearby for treatment.
The
attack set Verbena on fire, but the ship is continuing on its voyage to Venice,
Italy, with S&P Global’s vessel-tracking data showing Verbena is expected
to arrive in Venice on 17 June. Centcom
stated, "Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues
to fight the fire."
The
ship, carrying building materials, had departed Malaysia’s Johor port on 24
May. In the 24 hours around the attack, Centcom forces destroyed one sea drone
and two Houthi patrol boats in the Red Sea.
Centcom added, "This continued
reckless behaviour by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability
and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claim to be acting on
behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the
lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in
Gaza. The ongoing threat to the ability to safely transit the region caused by
the Houthis makes it harder to deliver critical assistance to the people of
Yemen as well as to Gaza."
Security
specialist Ambrey Analytics said Verbena’s crew sent a distress call, saying
two missiles hit the ship, and a third assault occurred at 4.20 pm UK time, but
the damage from the latter strike was mild.
The
latest injury comes a day after a seafarer was killed in a drone and missile
attack on Evalend Shipping’s 82,000 dwt bulk carrier Tutor on 12 June. It is the second fatality arising from a
Houthi attack, after three seafarers on bulk carrier True Confidence were killed
in March.
The
attack rendered Tutor losing its steering ability and the ship has been taking
on water. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said that Tutor was "vulnerable to
sinking". Salvage group Tsavliris is preparing two tugs to tow
Tutor away.