Environmental disaster looms

Freighter carrying fertilizer sinks off the coast of Yemen

(Bild: AFP/Al-Joumhouriya TV)

Almost two weeks after being hit with a rocket by Houthi militias, a freighter loaded with fertilizer sank off the coast of Yemen on Saturday night. This was reported by the internationally recognized Yemeni government based in Aden.

The British-registered ship Rubymar, which according to the tracking service Vesselfinder was sailing under the flag of the Central American state of Belize, sank in the Red Sea during the night.

Threat of environmental disaster
The US military had already warned of an environmental disaster days ago. The Rubymar was probably carrying around 41,000 tons of fertilizer. In addition, a mile-long oil slick had formed. The ship was severely damaged in the attack. The crew was brought to safety and taken to Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

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Houthis regularly attack ships off Yemen
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, the Islamist Houthis have regularly attacked ships off the Yemeni coast. The militia, which is allied with Iran, says it wants to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by firing on merchant ships in the Red Sea. The Israeli military operation is a reaction to the terrorist attack by Islamist Hamas on October 7.

Several Western countries, including the USA and the UK, are involved in operations to repel the attacks. The EU has also launched a military operation to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea.

Shipping companies avoid trade route
The sea route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal is one of the most important trade routes in the world. Due to attacks by the Houthis, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe - with a significant impact on the global economy.