Latest news with #Liberian-flagged
New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Kerala's wake-up call and a global crisis unfolding
The world's oceans—critical conduits of global commerce, reservoirs of marine biodiversity, and regulators of Earth's climate—are confronting threats of unprecedented scale and complexity. While overfishing, plastic pollution, and ocean warming have long dominated environmental discourse, oil spills remain one of the most acute and underappreciated forms of marine degradation. The recent spill off Kerala's coast offers a sobering illustration of how such incidents are not isolated anomalies but symptomatic of a broader, systemic crisis—one that is both local in its impact and global in its implications. A local disaster, a global symptom In late May 2025, the MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged container ship, capsized and sank off the coast of Alappuzha. What followed was a catastrophic oil spill that released more than 450 tonnes of furnace oil, diesel, and hazardous cargo—including plastic nurdles—into the Arabian Sea. The disaster has wreaked havoc on Kerala's coastal ecosystems, severely impacted the livelihoods of fishing communities, and exposed significant gaps in maritime disaster preparedness. The environmental footprint is enormous: thick furnace oil now stains Kerala's once-pristine beaches, nurdles are washing up on shores from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam, and fragile estuaries and backwaters face long-term contamination. For the fishing communities dependent on these waters, the consequences are not just ecological—they are existential.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
Search ends for those missing after Yemen's Houthi rebels sink ship in Red Sea
Search called off as mariners missing The private security firms Ambrey and Diaplous Group ran the search for those missing from the Eternity C, which had a three-man security team aboard but requested no escort from either the U.S. Navy or a European Union force in the region. The ship came under attack July 7 and faced hours of Houthi assaults by small arms and bomb-carrying drones before ultimately sinking in the Red Sea. The initial attack on the Eternity C came a day after the attack on the Magic Seas. Both ships were Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned vessels. Advertisement Ten people were recovered alive from the attack, including eight Filipino crew members and a Greek and Indian from the vessel's security team, the EU's Operation Aspides said. At least four are presumed to have been killed in the attack, leaving 11 others missing, the EU mission has said. Advertisement The Houthis claimed to have taken some mariners after the attack, but have offered no evidence of that. The U.S. Embassy in Yemen said it believed the rebels had 'kidnapped' some of the crew. 'The decision to end the search has been taken by the vessel's Owner reluctantly but it believes that, in all the circumstances, the priority must now be to get the 10 souls safely recovered alive ashore and to provide them with the urgent medical support they need at this difficult time,' a statement by the security firms said. 'The thoughts of all those involved in the rescue operation are with the families of those who remain missing.' Oil slicks seen after two vessels sank The attacks on the vessels also raised concerns about damage to the environment in the Red Sea, home to corals and wildlife that draws divers, tourists and scientists. Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analyzed Monday by The Associated Press show large, spreading oil slicks in the southern Red Sea where the vessels sank. Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst with the Dutch peace organization PAX, estimated the length of the slick from the Eternity C at some 80 kilometers (50 miles) and from the Magic Seas at some 65 kilometers (40 miles). He warned it could threatened wildlife reserves in nearby Eritrea in Africa and elsewhere. The oil comes from the ship's tanks and had been used for their own propulsion. Other shipping disasters have seen much of the slicks evaporate on their own, though they cause damage to the environment, too. Houthis have attacked shipping since 2023 From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. In their campaign so far, the Houthis have sank four vessels and killed at least eight mariners. Advertisement The Houthis stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. The Houthis' new attacks come as a new possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war remains in the balance. Meanwhile, the future of talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's battered nuclear program is in question after Israel launched a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic that saw the Americans bomb three Iranian atomic sites.
Yemen Online
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemen : UN chief condemns latest Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping
The UN Secretary-General issued a statement on Friday condemning the latest Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. According to news reports, the Yemen-based rebel group – which has been battling the internationally-recognised Government for control of the country since the early 2010s – attacked the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated Eternity C on Monday and again on Tuesday, causing it to sink on Wednesday morning. Four crew members are reported to have died. With 15 crew still missing as of Friday, the group also reportedly took an unspecified number of the seafarers to what rebels described as a 'safe location.' Weekend assault This came after the Houthis launched missiles and drones at another Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday, Magic Seas. The crew was forced to abandon ship, but all 22 members were rescued, according to reports. Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted Israeli and commercial ships in the Red Sea deemed to be en route to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in the enclave. In May, following US airstrikes on Houthi strongholds and missile infrastructure, the group agreed a deal with Washington to stop targeting US warships - however, they did not pledge to end attacks on other vessels allegedly linked to Israel. Strong condemnation: Guterres UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric read a statement from Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday at UN Headquarters, saying the UN chief 'strongly condemns the resumption of Houthi attacks on civilian vessels transiting the Red Sea, especially the attacks that took place over 6 to 8 July 2025.' Mr. Guterres said the 'unacceptable' attacks endangered the safety and security of crewmembers, violated freedom of navigation, disrupted maritime transport, and posed serious environmental, economic, and humanitarian risks. Mr. Guterres also emphasised that international law must be respected by all parties, stressing that UN Security Council resolution 2768 related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels must be fully respected. 'The United Nations remains committed to continuing its efforts towards broader de-escalation in the region as well as continued engagement with Yemeni, regional and international actors to secure a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen,' he concluded.
3 days ago
- Politics
At least 4 presumed dead, 11 missing after Houthi rebels sink ship in Red Sea, EU naval mission says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Four people are presumed dead and 11 others are still missing after a Liberian-flagged cargo ship sank in the Red Sea following an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, a European Union naval mission said Friday. The update from the EU's Operation Aspides came as private security forces continue to search for survivors from the Eternity C, a Greek-owned bulk carrier that sank on Wednesday. Ten people were recovered alive from the attack, including eight Filipino crew members and a Greek and Indian from the vessel's three-man security team, the EU operation said. Fifteen people remain unaccounted for, including the four presumed dead, the mission said. 'All nearby vessels are advised to have a sharp look out,' the EU mission said. The Houthis have said they hold some of the crew. The U.S. Embassy in Yemen — which has operated from Saudi Arabia for about a decade — has described the Houthis as having 'kidnapped' the mariners. The death toll is the highest from any seaborne assault carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the crucial maritime trade route where $1 trillion in cargo once passed through annually. The rebels say they are attacking ships to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war, and have in total sank four vessels and killed sailors who had no direct role in the war. The attack on the Eternity C followed the sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas in a similar attack last weekend. Neither the European naval force nor the U.S. had been escorting the two vessels when they were attacked. The Houthis have held mariners in the past. After seizing the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader in November 2023, the rebels held the crew until January this year. From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. The stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. A new possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war — as well as the future of talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's battered nuclear program — remain in the balance.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Four presumed dead and 11 missing after Houthi attack on cargo ship
Four people are presumed dead and 11 others are missing after a Liberian-flagged cargo ship sank in the Red Sea following an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, a European Union naval mission said. The update from the EU's Operation Aspides came as private security forces continue to search for survivors from the Eternity C, a Greek-owned bulk carrier that sank on Wednesday. Ten people were recovered alive from the attack, including eight Filipino crew members and a Greek and Indian from the vessel's three-man security team. Fifteen people remain unaccounted for, including the four presumed dead, the EU mission said. Houthi supporters attend a weekly protest against the US and Israel in Sanaa (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) 'All nearby vessels are advised to have a sharp look out,' a spokesman added. The Houthis have said they hold some of the crew. The US Embassy in Yemen — which has operated from Saudi Arabia for about a decade — has described the Houthis as having 'kidnapped' the mariners. The death toll is the highest from any seaborne assault carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the crucial maritime trade route where 1 trillion dollars in cargo once passed through annually. The rebels say they are attacking ships to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war, and have in total sunk four vessels and killed sailors who had no direct role in the war. The attack on the Eternity C followed the sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas in a similar attack last weekend. Neither the European naval force nor the US had been escorting the two vessels when they were attacked. The Houthis have held mariners in the past. After seizing the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader in November 2023, the rebels held the crew until January this year. From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. They stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weeks-long campaign of air strikes ordered by US President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. A new possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war — as well as the future of talks between the US and Iran over Tehran's battered nuclear programme — remain in the balance.
