The Greek-owned coal carrier Tutor, which was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi militants in the Red Sea last week, has sunk, as confirmed by salvage companies on Wednesday.
The Tutor was struck on June 12 by missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat, according to various sources including maritime security firms and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The attack left the vessel taking on water and critically damaged.
The UKMTO reported that the Tutor is believed to be the second ship sunk by the Iran-aligned Houthi forces in this region since November 2023. The attacks by the Houthis on international shipping routes, which include access points to the Suez Canal via the Red Sea, are purportedly carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Following the attack, two salvage ships were dispatched to recover the Tutor, but they were informed that the vessel had already sunk, according to Andreas Tsavliris, a co-owner of Tsavliris’ Salvage. “Naval forces advised us on Tuesday afternoon that the Liberia-flagged Tutor had sunk,” said Tsavliris. Debris and oil were observed at the sinking site, leading to the abandonment of the recovery mission.
The ship’s manager, Athens-based Evalend Shipping, did not respond to requests for comment.
The Tutor was manned by 22 crew members from the Philippines. These crew members were evacuated by military authorities on June 14 and repatriated. However, one crew member, who was reportedly working in the engine room at the time of the attack, remains missing, as confirmed by the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of assaults by the Houthi militants on international shipping in the Red Sea. The first ship to be sunk by the Houthis was the UK-owned Rubymar, which went down on March 2 after a missile strike two weeks earlier. More recently, the Palau-flagged Verbena, loaded with wood construction materials, was severely damaged by similar attacks. The crew of the Verbena abandoned the ship when they could not contain a fire caused by the attack, and the vessel is now drifting in the Gulf of Aden, posing further risks.
These aggressive actions have compelled shipping companies to reroute their vessels away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, opting for the longer and more costly route around the southern tip of Africa. This diversion is causing delays in deliveries and increasing freight costs.
The continuous attacks by the Houthis have heightened concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. With vessels opting for alternative routes, the implications for global trade are significant, affecting delivery schedules and increasing operational costs for shipping firms. The international community remains watchful, considering measures to enhance security in the region and ensure the safety of maritime operations.
The sinking of the Tutor underscores the escalating risks in the Red Sea, amplifying calls for stronger international intervention to safeguard critical shipping routes against such militant activities.
