Greece Sends Salvage Ship to Red Sea Amid Houthi Threats

In response to a rise in maritime assaults by Yemen’s Houthi militants, Greece has deployed a salvage vessel to the Red Sea following the sinking of two bulk carriers managed by Greek companies.

Greek Minister of Shipping Vassilis Kikilias announced the decision on Thursday, calling it an emergency action to ensure the safety of seafarers and to help protect vital international shipping lanes.

The vessel, Giant, is operated by the Hellenic Association of Tugboat Owners and has a 14-member Greek crew. Its mission underscores Greece's commitment to supporting maritime safety in the wake of recent Houthi attacks.

The deployment follows the targeted attacks and subsequent sinking of two Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged bulk carriers: Magic Seas and Eternity C. While all crew members from Magic Seas were successfully rescued, the Eternity C incident ended in tragedy. Ten crew members were saved, five are feared dead, and another ten are reportedly being held by Houthi forces.

At the time of both attacks, there were reportedly no European Union naval assets from Operation Aspides—the EU’s Red Sea maritime security mission—in the vicinity.

These attacks are part of a broader Houthi campaign that escalated between November 2023 and December 2024, with over 100 maritime incidents carried out under the group's stated support for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

In a separate but related event, the Greek-managed livestock carrier Merinos Livestock was briefly detained near Yemen. The 49-year-old, 2,200 dwt ship was sailing from Bossaso, Somalia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it switched off its AIS tracking system. This action may have prompted its interception by what are believed to be Yemeni Coast Guard forces. A wooden boat reportedly fired warning shots and diverted the ship to Mocha port, where it was later released without formal charges.

These developments highlight the increasing volatility in Red Sea shipping routes and the growing need for enhanced maritime security measures.