| Reported: 1125UTC 06 July 2025 | Position: 14° 13’N 04° 40’E |
| Location: 51nm southwest of Hodeida, Yemen | |
Incident Details
UKMTO released warning 026-25 and four updates regarding an attack on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier MAGIC SEAS. The ship was heading north in the Red Sea when it was engaged by multiple small craft that opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. The ship’s Armed Security Team returned fire. Later updates confirmed the ship was struck by unknown projectiles, resulting in a fire onboard and the vessel taking on water. The crew subsequently abandoned the ship and were rescued by a passing merchant vessel. The crew is safe.
Fig1. Location of Incident – 51nm southeast of Hodeida, Yemen
Comment. Although we can find no official confirmation by the Yemen-based Houthis, it is highly likely that this is the first attack by the group against a commercial ship in the Red Sea since November 2024.
Assessment. Later reports suggest the ship was hit by two Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) on the port side, and a further two USV were destroyed by the ship’s Armed Security Team. The MAGIC SEAS is assessed to meet the Houthis’ target profile due to it and other vessels in the management group trading in Israeli ports in the past. This is consistent with Houthi warnings that they would target ships with links to Israel. According to open-source shipping data, the MAGIC SEAS visited the port of Ashdod in December 2023, emphasising the need for ship operators to conduct a thorough risk assessment before transiting the area. Ships are reminded to remain vigilant when operating in the area and to comply with the guidance given in the BMP-Maritime Security bmp-ms_hi-res_s.pdf and consider the use of an Armed Security Team to mitigate some of the threats in the area. Contact Neptune P2P Group, if you require any further assistance.
