An abandoned Belize-flagged bulk carrier
Rubymar which was damaged by Yemen’s Houthi missile strike, is still floating despite taking in water.
The Houthis had earlier said the vessel was in danger of sinking after claiming the attack that took place in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb late Sunday and forced the crew of 24, including four guards, to abandon ship. No injuries were reported, and the crew have since been safely transported to Djibouti.
Despite several confusing videos on social media of the vessel sinking, the latest images taken of the Rubymar show it still above water but well down by the stern after suffering a strike near the engine room.
The attack and damage inflicted on the 32,200 dwt ship with about 22 tonnes of fertilizer on board is so far the most serious incident of the escalating Red Sea conflict.
According to TankerTrackers.com, the vessel owned by UK-registered Golden Adventure Shipping and managed by Lebanon-based Blue Fleet Group is leaking fuel oil but is still afloat.
“She is located in the southbound traffic lane,” the monitoring service said in a post on social media platform X.
Efforts are underway to recover the 1997-built vessel that is still at risk of sinking and tow it back to Djibouti.
“She will be towed to Djibouti but the tugboat has not yet arrived,” Blue Fleet CEO Roy Khoury told AFP. “It should be there in two to three days.”
