Greek bulker majors continue to avoid Red Sea as Houthis parade hostages
- Houthis post hostage-style video featuring 11 members of Eternity C’s crew
- Risk to crew ‘unacceptably high’ for Greek bulker owners to consider Red Sea route
- Even if charterers do have reservations around rerouting, the responsibility to protect seafarers rests with shipowners, bulker owner tells Lloyd’s List
As the Houthi campaign against commercial shipping claims more victims and another set of hostages, some of the biggest names in dry bulk are firm in their stance on the Red Sea: we won’t put our crew somewhere we wouldn’t sail ourselves
CREW members of the now-sunk bulk carrier Eternity C (IMO: 9588249) have featured in the latest Houthi propaganda video, seemingly alive and well, and urging vessel owners not to call at Israeli ports.
The Liberia-flagged, 2012-built, 36,380 dwt Eternity C was first attacked by drones at around 2130 hrs on July 7, according to a Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty report, and sank on July 9.
Security sources told Lloyd’s List four seafarers died in the attack and six were pulled from the water by friendly vessels.
Shortly afterwards, the Houthis announced a group of its forces “moved to rescue several members of the ship’s crew, provide them with medical care, and transport them to a safe location”.
مشاهد للحظة إنقاذ طاقم السفينة "ETERNITY C" وشهادات للطاقم تؤكد وجهتها لميناء أم الرشراش بفلسطين المحتلة#معركة_الفتح_الموعود_والجهاد_المقدس
— أمين حيان Ameen Hayyan (@AminHian) July 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/5vC1dAVhqT
On July 28, the Houthis released a video featuring 11 members of Eternity C’s crew, one of which appears to be receiving medical treatment.
The crew describe how Houthis forces pulled them out of the water and repeat how well they are being looked after.
Some members also urged shipowners to cease calling at Israeli ports. One seafarer apologises that Eternity C was scheduled to call at Eilat, Israel, before nine other members apologise to the people of Palestine in unison. All of the above dialogue appears to be highly scripted.
The owner of Eternity C, Cosmoship Management, said it was “deeply relieved” to see that those crew members were alive and receiving care.
“This confirmation brings great comfort to all of us at Cosmoship, and especially to the families who have waited anxiously for news,” the Greek company said.
“Our utmost priority remains the safety and well-being of these individuals. We continue to work through every available channel to support their continued care and to facilitate their safe and swift return home to their families.”
Cosmoship also confirmed that two of Eternity C’s crew had been confirmed dead, while another two are “sadly feared dead”.
“The loss of these seafarers is profoundly felt by the Cosmoship team. We are providing every support to their families at this distressing time.”
There was a slight increase in Greece-affiliated vessels transiting through the Bab el Mandeb in February following a Houthi announcement that attacks on shipping would cease after the first Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
But the stance of some of the biggest names in Greek shipping remains firm. Safe Bulkers chief executive Polys Hajioannou said his company “will never send a vessel into a region where the owners themselves would not feel comfortable to sail on board”.
Ariston Navigation chief executive and Intercargo chairman John Xylas said the risk to crew and vessels remained “unacceptably high”, despite recent announcements of a US ceasefire with the Houthis.
For the most part, charterers appear to be in agreement too. Hajioannou said Safe Bulkers received “little or no difficulties from our charterers”, despite the increased voyage time and costs associated with diversion.
“Once the risks were clearly communicated, our leading charterers, such as Admi, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and all prominent Japanese charterers with whom we are long associated, responded with full co-operation.”
Similarly, Xylas said some of the big mining majors request the cape route “in the current risk” climate.
Navios chief executive Angeliki Frangou said most charterers “would opt for risk-free routes”.
“No one wants to take the risk to life and property,” she said.
Contracts had evolved to require rerouting, and the increased insurance premiums that come with the Red Sea route solidified the decision to go around, she added.
Star Bulk chief strategy officer Charis Plakantonaki admitted it was “understandable that charterers focus on minimising disruption to reduce voyage time and cost”.
But ultimately “it is the shipowner who has the responsibility to assess the risks and set the standards”, she said.
Earlier in the month, the UN Security Council extended its requirement to provide written reports on Houthi attacks until January 15, 2026.
Algeria, China and Russia abstained on the vote, which passed with 12 voting in favour.
The representative of China said some countries took military action against Yemen following the adoption of a resolution in January 2024, which condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
He said those actions “seriously impacted Yemen’s peace process and exacerbated tensions in the Red Sea” and warned that any Security Council resolutions should not be “misinterpreted or abused”. Yemen’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected, he said.
Russia’s representative said the 2024 resolution “raised serious concerns” that despite its intention to protect freedom of navigation, it may offer justification for military action on Yemeni territory.
“We emphasise that such misinterpretations are unacceptable and undermine the authority of the Security Council,” he said.
