A photo shared by the U.S. Central Command showing an oil slick from the MV Rubymar in the Red Sea. Photo courtesy CENTCOM
The U.S. Central Command has reported an 18-mile-long oil slick from the MV Rubymar, which as struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile on Sunday launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. The ship remains afloat, but is at risk of sinking.
The attack occurred on Feb. 18 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., forcing its crew members to abandon ship.
The Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier is now anchored and slowly taking on water.
“The unprovoked and reckless attack by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists caused significant damage to the ship, which caused an 18-mile oil slick,” the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday. “The M/V Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked, which could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster.”
CENTCOM further stated, “The Houthis continue to demonstrate disregard for the regional impact of their indiscriminate attacks, threatening the fishing industry, coastal communities, and imports of food supplies.”
Images released of the Rubymar on Thursday by the BBC showed the ship’s stern riding low in the water.
The risk to shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has increased due to dozens of drone and missile attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis since November, with U.S. and British military strikes failing to slow down the attacks.
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