red sea yacht fire

British tourists dead after boat fire in Egypt’s Red Sea

Egyptian authorities say an electrical short circuit sparked a blaze on a scuba diving boat carrying 15 tourists and 12 crew members near Marsa Alam.

Three British nationals have been declared dead after a scuba diving boat they were on caught fire off Egypt’s Red Sea coastline.

On Monday, British tour operator Scuba Travel released a statement in which they said they “must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests … perished in the tragic incident,” when the Hurricane scuba diving boat went up in flames off the Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam.

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In a short statement a day before, Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate said 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued and a search party had been launched to find the remaining three, whose identities were not revealed.

Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said: “An electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room sparked the blaze”.

The boat was on a six-day cruise and due back on Sunday when the blaze broke out while it was about 25km (16 miles) north of Marsa Alam.

Britain’s Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Egyptian authorities and is “supporting the British nationals involved”.

Uncommon in Egypt

Images posted on social media showed a white motor yacht with the same name on fire at sea, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

“We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9km [6 miles] from the beach,” said Ahmed Maher, a diving manager in Marsa Shagra village. “A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off.”

Fatal boat accidents are uncommon in Egypt. In 2021, a boat capsized in a lake near Egypt’s Mediterranean city of Alexandria, leaving at least five people dead, including three children.

In 1991, an Egyptian ferry named Salem Express – sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt – sank, killing as many as 471 people, mostly Muslim pilgrims.

Egypt’s Red Sea resorts harbour some of the country’s most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holiday goers. The area has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life.

In recent years, Egypt has gone to great lengths to bolster its tourism industry, hurt by years of political instability, COVID-19, and the negative economic effect of the war in Ukraine.

Egypt’s tourism sector employs two million people and generates more than 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

On Thursday, a Russian tourist was killed by a shark in the waters off the Egyptian Red Sea city of Hurghada.

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Three British tourists missing in Egypt after boat catches fire

Search party launched after 12 British nationals and 12 Egyptian crewmembers aboard scuba diving vessel rescued

Three British tourists are missing after a scuba diving boat they were cruising in caught fire off Egypt’s Red Sea coastline on Sunday, authorities have said.

A further 12 British nationals were rescued along with 12 Egyptian crew members and were brought to safety at the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, about 13 miles (21km) north of the town of Marsa Alam, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governor’s office and security sources.

The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane and had been used for a trip since 6 June in an area just north of Marsa Alam, the statement said.

A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, the company operating the diving boat, said the incident occurred at Elphinstone, a reef 12km offshore known as a spot for diving with sharks.

“Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire,” they said.

“There are three missing British passengers out of 15 passengers. All other 12 passengers plus two guides and 12 crew were transported to another boat and reached the nearest land safely. Now, we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision.”

Mohamed Bendary, secretary general of Egypt’s Red Sea governorate, said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire had started in the boat’s engine room. Egypt’s public prosecution office was investigating the incident, he added.

A search party has been launched to find the remaining three British tourists, whose identities were not revealed.

Images posted on social media showed a white motor yacht named Hurricane on fire at sea, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

“We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9km from the beach,” said Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village. “A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off.”

An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.”

Fatal boat accidents are uncommon in Egypt. In 2021 a boat capsized in a lake near the city of Alexandria, leaving five people dead, of whom three were children.

In April, the Egyptian navy rescued 37 people from a tourist boat that had capsized in the Red Sea, including 14 British tourists. The group received medical treatment after the incident, but no fatalities were reported.

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In 1991, the Egyptian ferry Salem Express , sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, sank, killing as many as 471 people, mostly Muslim pilgrims.

Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, which harbour some of the country’s most renowned beach destinations, are popular with European holidaymakers. The area has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and diving sites offering diverse marine life.

Last week, a 24-year-old Russian man was killed after being attacked by a tiger shark off the coast of Hurghada.

In recent years, Egypt has gone to great lengths to bolster its tourism industry, hurt by years of political instability, Covid-19 and the negative economic effect of the war in Ukraine. Tourism accounts for an estimated 12% of Egyptian GDP.

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Three British Tourists Missing After Fire on Boat in Red Sea

Plumes of smoke erupt from a yacht on fire in Marsa Alam, Egypt, June 11, 2023 in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Mohamed Al-Saif/Handout via REUTERS

CAIRO (Reuters) - Three British tourists were missing and 12 had been rescued after a motor boat caught fire on Sunday off the Egyptian Red Sea coast, Egyptian officials and security sources said.

The survivors were brought to safety in the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, about 21km (13 miles) north of the town of Marsa Alam, along with 12 Egyptian crew and guides, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governor's office and two security sources.

The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane and had been on a trip since June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam, the statement said.

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Images posted on social media showed a white motor yacht with the same name on fire at sea, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

"We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9km from the beach," said Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village. "A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off."

Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities about the incident and supporting nationals involved.

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(Reporting by Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, Farah Saafan and Kylie MacLellan; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

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Three British tourists declared dead after Egypt boat fire in Red Sea

Group missing since sunday, when diving vessel caught fire north of marsa alam resort.

Flames leap from the boat on Sunday. Reuters

Three British tourists missing since Sunday after a fire on a diving boat in the Red Sea off Egypt have been declared dead, a UK tour operator said.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contacted the families of the three diving enthusiasts, who were taking part in a week-long trip north of the Red Sea resort of Marsa Alam.

Their bodies have not yet been found. But they are thought to have died in the fire as they had decided to stay aboard while their companions went diving.

On Sunday morning, a diving boat named the Hurricane issued a distress signal after a fire broke out due to an electrical problem in its engine room, police officials said.

At the time the fire started, 12 of 15 divers were having a dive briefing, Scuba Travel said in a statement.

The three divers who died were not with the main group as they had decided not to participate in the dive that day.

“It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, who had not participated in the dive briefing, early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident,” the company said.

“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.”

The 12 tourists who were rescued were able to be moved immediately aboard another diving vessel in the area, the holiday company said.

As the blaze worsened, the 14 crew members, including the captain and two dive guides also abandoned the burning Hurricane after trying and failing to find the missing three tourists, Scuba Travel said.

The vessel, which is still smouldering, is currently being towed to a port to undergo repairs.

Though Scuba Travel confirmed that an official investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, the Egyptian government is yet to publicly comment on the tourists’ death.

A tourism ministry official declined to comment on the incident when The National reached out for comment.

The fire aboard the Hurricane comes a week after another boat capsized, also near Marsa Alam . All passengers and crew were rescued.

It also comes three days after a shark attack off the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada killed a 23-year-old Russian man and led to the closure for 48 hours of a 60-km stretch of coastline between the resort of El Gouna and Soma Bay to the south.

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Three British tourists confirmed dead after diving boat fire in Egypt

Tour operator says 12 others were on board when the fire broke out, article bookmarked.

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Three British passengers have died in Egypt after a diving boat burst into flames in the Red Sea , a tour operator has confirmed.

Scuba Travel said the three passengers were among 15 qualified divers who were staying on board the dive boat for a week when the fire broke out on Sunday. The boat called ‘Hurricane’ burst into flames off the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea.

A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, which owns the boat, said on Sunday: “Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire.”

Three missing British passengers who were on a diving boat that caught flames have been confirmed dead by the tour operator

In a statement seen by Sky News , the tour operator said: “At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning.”

The boat left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was due to return on Sunday, according to reports.

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Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said, “an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room sparked the blaze.”

A full investigation will be carried out by local authorities.

According to Scuba Travel, 12 of the divers were immediately evacuated to another craft when the fire broke.

Fourteen crew members also had to leave the vessel after trying to find the missing guests.

The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine

A spokesman for Scuba Travel told Sky: “It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident.

“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.”

An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.”

Fatal boat accidents are relatively uncommon in Egypt. In 2021 a boat capsized in a lake near Egypt‘s Mediterranean city of Alexandria, leaving at least five people dead, including three children.

In 1991, the Egyptian ferry, Salem Express – sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt – sank killing as many as 471 people, mostly Muslim pilgrims.

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Three British divers presumed dead in Egypt after tourist boat fire on Red Sea

• Monday 12 June 2023 at 9:03am

Footage shows the boat on fire in the Red Sea off the coast of an Egyptian tourist resort. ITV News' Neil Connery has the latest

Three British divers have been presumed dead after a tourist boat caught fire on the Red Sea in Egypt .

A spokesperson for Scuba Travel, who arranged the tour on the dive boat Hurricane, said the three people were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were enjoying a week's stay on board.

Operated by Tornado Marine, 12 of the 15 were participating in a briefing on the boat when the fire broke out.

"T hose missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning," the spokesperson said.

"The severity of the fire meant that the 12 divers were immediately evacuated by rib to another craft nearby and the 14 crew members, including the Captain and two dive guides, having tried to reach the missing guests, also had to abandon ship and were rescued by rib.

" It is with great regret that we, as Tour Operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, who had not participated in the dive briefing, early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident.

"Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time."

Scuba Travel thanked the Foreign Office for their work expediting emergency travel documents for the guests travelling back to the UK.

The fire broke out at 6.30am on Sunday off the Elphinstone Reef.

A "preliminary examination" of the incident has identified an "electrical mass in the engine room" as the cause of the fire, according to a statement from the Red Sea Governorate.

Local authorities and police are to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire.

The boat is currently being towed to a Port, yet to be chosen, as the vessel is "still smoldering with cooling required before entry."

Last week, a Russian man died off the coast of an Egyptian Red Sea resort after being attacked by a shark.

Russia's Consul General in the city of Hurghada, eastern Egypt, confirmed that a man, who was born in 1999, had died.

Viktor Voropayev said the incident took place off Dream Beach - a popular tourist resort - in Hurghada.

He added that the man was not a tourist, but a permanent resident of Egypt.

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Three British tourists missing after boat catches fire off Egypt's Red Sea coast

Three British tourists are missing after a scuba diving boat they were on caught fire off Egypt's Red Sea coastline. 

Key points:

• A search is underway for the missing tourists
• 12 passengers and 12 tourists escaped the blaze
• An electrical short circuit sparked the fire

In a short statement, Egypt's Red Sea Governorate said 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued when a medium-sized scuba diving boat went up in flames near resort town Marsa Alam on Sunday. 

Eyewitness video showed flames and smoke rising from the yacht as passengers jumped off and into life boats below. 

A search party has been launched in the hope of finding three British tourists who are yet to be accounted for. The tourists have not been identified. 

Kuwaiti tourist Abdulrahman Alsarheed told Reuters the flames engulfed the boat in a "matter of minutes". 

"There was light smoke, and in one or two minutes the smoke became white and heavy, and then it turned black, and the fire broke out so fast because it was windy in the morning," he said.

"The crew [of our boat] did all they could, some had light wounds, they put bandages on them and gave them water, then we dropped them off in Marsa [Shagra]."

Survivors taken to nearby resort

Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said an "electrical short circuit in the boat's engine room sparked the blaze".

Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Egyptian authorities and "supporting the British nationals involved".

Egypt's Red Sea resorts are some of the country's most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holiday-goers.

The region has a reputation as a diving destination, with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life.

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Three dead in Red Sea liveaboard MV Hurricane fire

11 June 2023 2 minutes

It has been confirmed that the three British divers missing after fire broke out onboard the MV Hurricane Red Sea liveaboard near Elphinstone Reef have died, according to a statement from tour operator Scuba Travel, which had chartered the boat.

A spokesperson for Scuba Travel said in a statement: ‘It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident.’

‘Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.’

Scuba Travel had said that there were 15 certified divers on board the vessel – all British – when the fire broke out during the dive briefing at around 8:30am local time (6:30am UK time). The three divers – who were initially reported as ‘missing’ – had decided not to dive that morning.

The 12 divers present during the briefing abandoned ship and were transported by RIB to another nearby boat, MV Blue , followed by the 14 Egyptian crew and dive guides. The divers were subsequently transported to Marsha Shagra to receive medical attention.

A total of 29 people were believed to be on the boat, which was on the final day of its trip after departing from Port Ghalib, Marsa Alam, on 6 June. The dive at Elphinstone Reef would have been the last of the trip before Hurricane returned to port.

Footage shared on social media shows the Hurricane , one of the Tornado Marine Fleet’s most popular liveaboards, engulfed in flames.

Following the news of the incident first spreading on Sunday morning, a spokesperson from the Red Sea Governorate said: ‘The initial examination resulted in an electrical short circuit in the engine room, and the investigation authorities went to conduct an inspection and investigation.’

Prior to news of the divers’ deaths, the Sunday statement continued: ‘The crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named Blue and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still underway for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is underway.’

A spokesperson for the UK FCDO said: ‘We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.’

Related articles:

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• Conception liveaboard fire victims were trying to escape when they died – report
• Red Sea liveaboard Carlton Queen capsizes
• One diver rescued, three missing in Malaysia

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3 British scuba divers lost in Red Sea boat fire reported dead

26 other divers successfully evacuated sunday from burning vessel.

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Three British nationals who went missing after a scuba diving boat they were cruising in caught fire in the Red Sea off the Egyptian coast have died, a U.K.-based tour operator said Monday,

Egyptian authorities said the three went missing when a medium-sized scuba vessel named "Hurricane" went up in flames off the southern Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam on Sunday. The blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room, they said.

We "must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, who had not participated in the dive briefing early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident," the U.K.-based Scuba Travel said in a short statement.

BRITISH EXPAT KILLED BY 15-FOOT GREAT WHITE SHARK CLASSIFIED AS 'PROVOKED INCIDENT'

The company did not say how it determined the three are dead and Egyptian authorities have said only that they are missing. Scuba Travel has not identified the three.

Three British divers have been reported dead after disappearing in a boat fire off the Egyptian coast.

Twelve other British divers and 14 Egyptian crew members were evacuated Sunday morning from the vessel in a rescue operation near the Elphinstone Reef, Scuba Travel said in a short statement. All 15 tourists were qualified divers on a weeklong cruise, it said.

"At the time the fire broke out 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning," the statement said.

YACHT CARRYING 3 RUSSIANS, 2 EGYPTIANS GOES MISSING IN RED SEA, BOAT'S OWNER BELIEVES PIRATES ARE INVOLVED

Scuba Travel spokesperson Pat Adamson told The Associated Press that the tour operator was unable to provide any details about where the three guests were when the fire broke out at 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday or the location of the bodies. However, he said it was normal for guests to opt out of early morning dives during week-long trips.

Adamson said the tour company has not received any confirmation from Egyptian authorities that an investigation team has boarded the boat. The company is waiting for a full investigation.

Egypt’s Red Sea coastline has some of the country’s most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holiday goers. It has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life.

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Three Brits MISSING after boat bursts into flames in Red Sea during luxury diving trip

A scuba diving tourist boat carrying 29 people, 12 of them English and 14 locals, was headed to the Marsa Alam region of Egypt in the southern part of the Red Sea, when it burst into flames

• 10:41, 11 Jun 2023
• Updated 15:35, 11 Jun 2023

A major search is underway for three British tourists who went missing after the luxury dive boat they were travelling on erupted into flames in Egypt's Red Sea.

The vessel , which was carrying 29 people at the time, was the Hurricane diving vessel owned by the Tornado Marine Fleet, an Egyptian tour operator covering the popular tourist destination.

Twelve other Britons are said to have been rescued from the boat off the coast of Marsa Alam.

Terrifying footage shows the boat erupting in flames, with thick clouds of acrid smoke billowing into the air, as the frantic passengers desperately cling to the side of the ship as they're lowered into a waiting lifeboat.

Local officials say an initial investigation points to the inferno being caused by an electrical fault in the engine room.

At 6.30am this morning, the ship was approaching the Elphinstone Reef - which is known for being a good spot to see sharks and dolphins - when it caught fire .

A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet told the Mirror the blaze broke out during a diving briefing as the passengers were preparing to explore the pristine waters.

They said: "Today at 6.30 am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, [the] Hurricane caught fire.

"We do have three missing British passengers, and all others were on the Ribs [life boats] to another boat and reached the nearest land safely.

" Now, we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision."

The company advertises the Hurricane, which is one of their most popular vessels, as a "Powerhouse in the Southern Red Sea" which costs around £1500 for a seven-night trip, including flights.

Images shared online showed the stunning ship fitted with advanced diving equipment, which is all provided free of charge, a massive dining area and even an on-board chef preparing the day's fuel.

Its website adds: "Hurricane has long history of sailing the southern Red Sea. This steel hulled liveaboard makes for a stable home for a week, cruising some of the Red Sea's most famous and beloved dive sites."

The ship is just under 120ft long, with 11 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins split between two decks.

Egyptian police earlier confirmed that the Hurricane was carrying 29 people at the time of the fire, 12 of them Brits and another 14 locals.

The identities of the three missing passengers have not yet been shared.

Copts Today added that the boat had set out from the Marina Porto Ghalib on June 6, which was Tuesday.

The surviving tourists and crew have been taken to the beach of a village called Marsa Al-Shajara

The Egyptian outlet added that they are all in good health and unharmed.

The search continues for the three missing tourists.

An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved."

In a statement, the Red Sea Governorate said: "The initial examination resulted in an electrical short circuit in the engine room, and the investigation authorities went to conduct an inspection and investigation.

"[The Secretary General] pointed out that the crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named 'Blue' and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still underway for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is underway."

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Watch: Yacht catches fire, 3 Britions missing in Red Sea

Authorities search for the missing and launch an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the fire; 12 other british tourists and 12 egyptian crew members who were also on the yacht were safely evacuated.

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/crew-of-tanker-in-red-sea-reported-safe-after-suspected-attack-by-yemens-houthi-rebels

Crew of tanker in Red Sea reported safe after suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a tanker in the Red Sea early Friday but the ship’s crew was unharmed, authorities said. It was the latest in the rebels’ campaign against shipping over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

READ MORE: A likely Yemen Houthi attack hits ship, causing the first ‘fatalities’ in group’s continued assaults on shipping in Red Sea

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center initially reported the ship had been “struck by a missile” off the port city of Hodeida but later Friday said that further inspection of the vessel in daylight found no damage.

It described the crew as being “safe” and said the ship was continuing on its way.

The private security firm Ambrey also reported Friday’s attack and said the tanker with armed guards aboard had a “near miss” on Thursday off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. It said the ship had been Israel-affiliated but changed owners in February.

In a statement, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the tanker as the Panama-flagged, Vietnamese-owned Pacific 01. That tanker previously had been owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which has been repeatedly targeted by the Houthis. That company is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

The rebels also claimed they targeted an American destroyer, without elaborating. U.S. warships have repeatedly been targeted by Houthi missile and drone attacks.

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in Gaza.

The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

READ MORE: Yemen’s Houthis have hypersonic missile, according to Russian state media, possibly raising stakes in Red Sea crisis

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now had a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer, the Rubymar, which later sank after drifting for several days.

Jon Gambrell, the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006.

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State Department official overseeing Yemen discusses U.S. response to Houthi attacks

World Jan 17

Cargo ship hit by Houthis sinks, spilling oil and fertilizer into Red Sea

Spill could have 'devastating' effects on marine life, food and water supplies, health expert says.

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Food, drinking water and marine life are at risk after a cargo ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels spilled oil and fertilizer into the Red Sea.

The U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said early Sunday the Rubymar, a Belize-flagged vessel carrying 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer, sank at 2:15 a.m. local time Saturday.

The ship was struck by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and had been drifting northward after taking on water. Before plunging, the vessel had already been leaking heavy fuel that triggered an oil slick through the waterway.

"It's really devastating," said David Rehkopf, associate professor of epidemiology and public health at Stanford University in California.

Rehkopf co-authored a study about a potential Red Sea oil spill in 2021, when the FSO Safer oil tanker carrying millions of barrels of oil was decaying and in danger of spilling. Researchers found a spill would have "catastrophic" public health ramifications for residents in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Eritrea.

Rehkopf is concerned about potential harm to marine life, which many residents rely on for food, as well as drinking water, given Saudi Arabia relies on desalination plants that filter sea water.

How the Houthis became major Middle East disruptors

Spill could have 'implications for the health of millions'.

"Worst-case scenario is that there could be implications for the health of millions of people from pollution, and food supply and water supply effects," Rehkopf said.

"This would be bad anywhere. I mean, if this occurred off the coast of Florida, it would be bad. But it's exponentially worse because of the difficulties that are already going on for folks there."

The Rubymar could leak 7,000 barrels, which is only a fraction of the oil carried by the Safer until its cargo was successfully transferred to another vessel last year. But that is still significantly more oil than was spilled by the Wakashio, a Japanese ship that wrecked near Mauritius in 2020, causing millions of dollars in damages and harming the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.

Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government, called the Rubymar's sinking "an unprecedented environmental disaster."

"It's a new disaster for our country and our people," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Every day, we pay for the Houthi militia's adventures, which were not stopped at plunging Yemen into the coup disaster and war."

U.S. Central Command has warned in recent days of an "environmental disaster" in the making.

Fish could become 'inedible,' researcher says

The Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, a critical waterway for energy shipments heading to Europe, since November in protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza.

The Red Sea is a vital source of food, especially in Yemen, where fishing was the second-largest export after oil before the current civil war between the Houthis and Yemen's Sunni government.

"The most direct effect is one of tainting or contamination, which means that the fish become inedible," said Peter Hodson, an oil spill expert and professor emeritus with Queens University's School of Environmental Studies in Kingston, Ont.

"The impacts are ultimately on a failure to reproduce, or a lower reproduction rate because fewer embryos and larvae survive."

Drinking water safety is of particular concern for Saudi Arabia, which for decades has been building the world's largest network of desalination plants. Cities like Jeddah rely on the facilities for almost all of their drinking water.

"If (oil) got into the intakes it would certainly start to affect the whole desalination process," Hodson said. "You might end up having to either shut down the purification process, or risk heavy damage that would completely destroy the desalination plant."

• Crew forced to abandon cargo ship near Yemen after Houthi missile strike
• Britain, U.S. hit 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, Pentagon says

Fertilizer 'could be the worst component'

It is difficult to gauge the risk from the fertilizer that the U.S. military's Central Command and port authorities in Djibouti, adjacent to where the Rubymar sank, said the ship was transporting.

Fertilizer can fuel the proliferation of algae blooms, resulting in the loss of oxygen, asphyxiation of marine life and the creation of so-called "dead zones."

Hodson said the effect will depend on how badly the ship has broken, which will determine how quickly the toxins spill out.

"The fertilizer could be the worst component of all this, but it really depends on how intact the ship is," he said.

The Red Sea is home to some of the world's most colourful and extensive coral reefs, which are also at risk. Several are major tourist draws and increasingly a subject of great scientific research, owing to their apparent resilience to warming seawater temperatures.

Concerns raised about future spills

Ian Ralby, founder of maritime security firm I.R. Consilium, told the Associated Press that the Red Sea's unique circular water patterns aggravate these concerns. The patterns operate essentially as a giant lagoon, he said, with water moving north toward the Suez Canal during winter and outward to the Gulf of Aden in summer.

"What spills in the Red Sea, stays in the Red Sea," he said.

Ralby said he worries that even if this spill is manageable, there could be bigger disasters to come.

• Analysis Houthis shoring up power in Yemen with Red Sea strikes in support of Gaza

He said most container ships stopped using the Red Sea shipping lanes since the Houthis began targeting ships in the area. What remains, he said, are poorly maintained vessels, oil tankers and bulk carriers that pose far greater environmental risks.

"With fewer and fewer container ships to target, the odds of another spill with massive environmental impact has increased enormously," Ralby said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Digital writer

Kevin Maimann is a senior writer for CBC News based in Edmonton. He has covered a wide range of topics for publications including VICE, Toronto Star, Xtra Magazine and the Edmonton Journal. You can reach Kevin by email at [email protected].

With files from the Associated Press

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The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

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• US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
• Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
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• Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
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• Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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Red Sea Maritime Incident: Ship Hit by Suspected Houthi Rebel Attack

A n unspecified vessel has reportedly been hit by an alleged Houthi rebel strike in the early hours of Friday near the Red Sea’s port city of Hodeidah. The assault is believed to be part of the Houthi’s wider offensive against maritime targets amidst tensions surrounding Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip.

According to the British Royal Navy’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship was hit by what appeared to be a missile, causing some damage to the vessel. Despite the impact, the crew is considered to be out of harm’s way and the ship continues its voyage, which suggests that the damages incurred were not critical. Security company Ambrey has corroborated reports of the attack.

While the Houthi insurgents have not claimed responsibility for this attack immediately, they typically acknowledge such actions within a few hours after they occur. They have been targeting maritime traffic since November in an attempt to pressurize Israel into stopping its military actions in Gaza.

The attacks launched by the Houthis have begun to focus on ships with seemingly scant or no ties to Israel, the United States, or other nations involved in the Gaza conflict. Houthis have also launched missiles in the direction of Israel, which have often fallen short or been intercepted.

The Houthis, who belong to the Shia Zaydi minority, have gained international attention with their assaults on shipping, having historically been a ruling power in Yemen.

A recent report suggested the Houthis now possess hypersonic missiles, which could escalate their confrontational stance and intensify the pressure on Israel, especially following the collapse of a cease-fire agreement before Ramadan.

These hypersonic weapons would also represent a heightened threat to American and allied naval vessels in the region. In a prior event in March, a commercial ship was fatally struck by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in three crew casualties and prompted survivors to evacuate the ship.

There have been other significant Houthi offensives, including an attack on a cargo vessel called Rubymar last month, which was transporting fertilizer and eventually sunk after being adrift for an extended period.

### FAQ Section

**Q1: What happened in the Red Sea?**

A1: A ship was targeted in a suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea near the port city of Hodeida.

**Q2: Were there any casualties?**

A2: No casualties were reported from this particular incident. The crew was confirmed to be safe, and the ship is continuing its journey.

**Q3: Did the Houthis claim responsibility for the attack?**

A3: As of the initial reports, the Houthis had not claimed responsibility, but they often acknowledge such assaults after a few hours.

**Q4: Why are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?**

A4: The Houthis have been targeting shipping as part of their campaign against Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip.

**Q5: What are hypersonic missiles and why are they significant?**

A5: Hypersonic missiles are highly advanced weapons capable of traveling at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound. Their possession by the Houthis could significantly amplify the threat against naval powers in the region, including American and allied warships.

### Conclusion

The developments in the Red Sea underscore the ongoing volatility in the region arising from the complex conflict involving the Houthi rebels, Israel, and other international stakeholders. The persistent threat to maritime security intensifies the urgency for a diplomatic solution to curb hostilities and ensure safe passage for commercial vessels through these critical waterways. As naval defenses and international responses remain on alert, the stability in the Red Sea and surrounding areas hangs in a delicate balance.