Seafarer severely hurt in Houthi assault

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.