A ship that came under attack after a suspected Houthi assault is "taking on water" with the crew preparing to evacuate the vessel.
The attackers opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades off the coast of Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Maritime security sources said the vessel, which they identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas, had taken on water after being hit by sea drones.
A UKMTO spokesman has confirmed the vessel has been struck by unknown projectiles resulting in a fire onboard, with the vessel currently taking on water and the crew preparing to abandon ship.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hodeidah in western Yemen is situated on the Tihāmah coastal plain that borders the Red Sea.
It is one of the country’s chief ports and has modern facilities.
The Red Sea is heavily used by trade ships travelling between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal.
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The Red Sea is heavily used by trade ships travelling between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal
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It offers a shorter and more efficient route for trade between Asia and Europe compared to going around Africa.
About 15 per cent of global maritime trade and around 30 per cent of global container traffic pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Recent attacks on ships in the region have led to increased shipping costs, longer transit times, and disruptions in global supply chains.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have previously launched missile and drone attacks in the region.
Recent attacks on ships in the region have led to increased shipping costs, longer transit times, and disruptions in global supply chains
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The group said that the strikes on commercial and military ships between November 2023 and January 2025 were an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In the two years, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors.
The rebels had implemented a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March, with the assault ending just weeks later.
Somalian Pirates are also known to have operated in the area.
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