Ship evacuated after first civilian fatalities in Houthis’ Red Sea attacks
India’s navy evacuated all 20 crew members from the vessel True Confidence in the Red Sea after a Houthi missile attack, which resulted in the death of three seafarers and severe injuries to two others. The attack occurred approximately 50 nautical miles off Aden, setting the ship ablaze. The deceased included two Filipinos and one Vietnamese. The crew and three armed guards were taken to a hospital in Djibouti. The vessel, flagged by Barbados and operated by a Greek company, is now drifting and arrangements for its salvage are being made. The Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians. The cost of insuring voyages through the Red Sea has significantly increased since these attacks began. The International Transport Workers’ Federation has called for better protection for seafarers and suggested diverting ships around the Cape of Good Hope until safe transit through the Red Sea can be guaranteed. The True Confidence was transporting steel products and trucks from China to Jeddah and Aqaba.
