An anti-ship ballistic missile attack on the Barbados-flagged bulker, True Confidence (IMO: 9460784) by the Houthi-rebel group in Yemen has killed either two or three of the crew (accounts differ) and have hurt several more. The deceased seafarers are thought to be two Filipino nationals and one Vietnamese national.
The ship, which was transiting the Red Sea en-route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after calling at Singapore in South East Asia, was attacked at about 11:30am (Sanaa, Yemen-time) on Wednesday March 6th. The ship was significantly damaged and abandoned, US Central Command has reported. Warships from the Combined Maritime Forces have responded and are assessing the situation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines issued a statement of its condolences to the families of the two Filipino seafarers who died. The Philippine Government also reported that the thirteen (13) other Filipino seafarers aboard the civilian bulk carrier were brought by the Indian Navy to Djibouti. It added that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt will send a team to Djibouti to provide all necessary assistance for these affected Filipinos.
The attack on the True Confidence is the latest in a string of attacks on international shipping transiting the Red Sea. Apart from the mass deviation of vessels away from the Red Sea, over a dozen ships have been directly attacked. One of the latest was the Rubymar (IMO 9138898), which has been sunk in the Red Sea with a full cargo of fertilizer.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers,” US Centcomm said in a statement.
Lord David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary of the UK – which has taken part in a bombing campaign against the Houthis, commented that: “[we were] appalled to hear about the deaths of MV True Confidence international crew members in a Houthi attack in the Red Sea. Our thoughts are with their families. We condemn the Houthis’ reckless & indiscriminate attacks on global shipping & demand they stop. We will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation and back our words with actions”.
The Islamic Republic News Agency, the state-owned news agency of Iran, which has been accused of backing the Houthis, reported views from the Houthi-side (which it describes as the Yemeni Army) that the “the American ship”, the True Confidence was: “struck “with a number of appropriate naval missiles” and that the vessel was engulfed with fire as a result of the “accurate strike”. It said that the operation came after the American ship’s crew ignored warnings from the Yemeni naval forces. The Yemeni army also said that its operation was in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, adding that it will continue its attacks in the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli regime lifts its siege of Gaza, and the US-led aggression against Yemen comes to an end… Yemeni armed forces have been striking Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea since mid-November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza ravaged by five months of relentless Israeli attacks during the regime’s brutal war on the besieged territory. The Yemenis have been targeting American and British ships in the Red Sea as well, after the two countries launched airstrikes on Yemeni soil in mid-January in response to what they called threats to international shipping”.
Independent maritime security consultancy, Ambrey, issued a report that the vessel was formerly US-financed by a US company, and was owned by a non-US national via a Greece-based company. It added that the Houthis warned the merchant vessel before the attack and the crew turned the ship around and drifted. The ship was then attacked. “The vessel was still listed as owned [by a US company] prior to the attack,” Ambrey noted.
The IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, issued a statement on behalf of the IMO: ““It is deeply saddening to follow the horrific reports of the casualties on the merchant vessel True Confidence, following an attack on the ship southwest of Aden, in Yemen. I extend my deepest condolences and those of the entire IMO family to the families of those who have lost their lives, and our thoughts are with those who have been injured. Innocent seafarers should never become collateral victims. I want to thank the efforts of all ships in the area in assisting the vessel and particularly its crew. We all need to do more to protect seafarers. I once again call for collective action to fortify the safety of those who serve at sea. International trade depends on international shipping and international shipping cannot go on without seafarers.”
A joint industry statement was issued by BIMCO, the International Chamber of shipping, CLIA, Intercargo, Intertanko, IMCA, ECSA, Intermanager and OCIMF.
“Industry Associations express their deep concern over the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered by the crew of MV True Confidence in an attack in the Red Sea on 6 March 2024. The loss of life and injuries to civilian seafarers is completely unacceptable. Merchant vessels crewed by civilian seafarers transporting global trade have a right to innocent passage through the region without the threat of attack. The frequency of attacks on merchant shipping highlights the urgent need for all stakeholders to take decisive action to safeguard the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and put an end to such threats. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by this terrible event.”
