MV Rubymar
First commercial vessel sunk in Red Sea by Houthi anti-ship missile
Background
MV Rubymar was a Belize-flagged bulk carrier managed by a UK-linked company. The vessel was transiting the Red Sea as part of the Suez Canal route when it was struck by Houthi forces. It became the first commercial vessel to be sunk as a direct result of the Houthi attack campaign.
The Incident
On February 18, 2024, Houthi forces struck MV Rubymar with an anti-ship missile in the Red Sea. The crew abandoned ship after the vessel took on water. The ship drifted for approximately 12 days before sinking on March 2, 2024. It was carrying approximately 21,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate fertiliser, raising environmental concerns about cargo release.
Outcome
The vessel sank in the Red Sea. All crew survived and were rescued. The sinking raised environmental concerns about the 41,000 litres of heavy fuel oil and fertiliser cargo. The incident marked a significant escalation — from damaging vessels to actually sinking them.
Strategic Significance
The Rubymar was the first confirmed sinking of a commercial vessel in the Red Sea crisis, raising the stakes of the conflict significantly. It demonstrated that Houthi anti-ship missiles were capable of causing fatal structural damage to large cargo vessels, not just fires or flooding that crews could manage.
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