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Ship Photos of The Week
Eternity C (top) and Magic Seas (bottom) following Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Top Stories
Red Sea Attacks Sink Two Ships, Reignite Global Alarm
Simmering tensions in the Red Sea boiled over this week after Yemen’s Houthi militants sank two Greek-operated bulk carriers, killing at least one seafarer and leaving 14 missing, four of whom are presumed dead and others kidnapped. The attacks on the Liberian-flagged Eternity C and Magic Seas shattered months of relative calm and reignited fears in one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, now some 20 months into the conflict.
Inside the Attacks:
A screengrab from footage shared by the Houthis showing the sinking of the M/V Magic Seas.
UKMTO reported that Magic Seas came under a coordinated, multi-wave attack on Sunday, about 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah. Up to eight small craft, including unmanned surface vessels (USVs), swarmed the ship. Two USVs struck the hull, while attackers fired RPGs, reportedly damaging the bridge. The vessel was also hit by two missiles, one during the initial assault and another an hour later. With fires spreading and the engine room flooding, the crew abandoned ship and were rescued by a passing merchant vessel. The Magic Seas, left drifting and unlit, was later deliberately sunk with hull-mounted explosives—a tactic echoing the earlier M/T Sounion attack.
Eternity C begins to sink from the stern.
The next day, the Eternity C—fresh from delivering UN food aid to Somalia—was struck by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades. With its lifeboats destroyed, the crew was forced to abandon ship by jumping into the sea. As of Friday, ten of the 25 people on board were rescued, some after drifting for 48 hours. The remaining 15 are missing, including six believed kidnapped by the U.S.-designated terrorist group and four who are presumed dead.
The Houthis quickly claimed responsibility, releasing dramatic footage of the attacks and sinkings—a chilling display of their escalating campaign against vessels with direct or indirect ties to Israeli ports or ownership. U.S. officials condemned the alleged abductions, while global maritime groups called the assaults “a shocking and unacceptable escalation.”
Israel Hits Ports, Galaxy Leader
The flare-up followed Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Houthi infrastructure earlier this week, including a power plant, three ports, and the Galaxy Leader—a commercial car carrier held hostage since November 2023 and reportedly used as a Houthi command and propaganda hub. (Watch the strike on the Galaxy Leader here)
Industry Reaction
The fallout has been swift: war risk premiums have more than doubled, some underwriters are pausing coverage, and daily traffic through Bab al-Mandab has fallen by 25% in just one week. Many vessels now broadcast messages asserting no Israeli ties.
International groups—including ICS, BIMCO, INTERTANKO, and INTERCARGO—joined the IMO in condemning the attacks. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called the violence “a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation,” urging diplomatic action to protect innocent mariners.
The latest attacks mark the first Houthi-related fatalities in more than a year and underscore a grim reality: once again, seafarers are caught in the crossfire of a geopolitical conflict they have no part in—with little protection and no safe passage.
Red Sea Attacks Timeline: Fatalities, Sinkings & Seizures:
Nov 19, 2023 – Galaxy Leader (Bahamas-flagged, Japanese-owned) – Seized by Houthi forces in international waters. – 25 crew held hostage for over a year; released in Jan 2025. Feb 2024 – Mar 2, 2024 – Rubymar (British-owned) – Hit by multiple missiles in Feb; sank on Mar 2—the first confirmed Houthi sinking. Mar 6, 2024 – True Confidence (Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged) – Missile attack near Aden killed 3 seafarers, the first reported deaths. – Vessel set ablaze and abandoned. Jun 12, 2024 – Tutor (Greek-owned coal carrier) – Struck by missiles and a USV near Hodeidah. – Sank days later. One crew member missing and presumed dead. Aug 21, 2024 – Sounion (Greek-flagged oil tanker) – Hit by drones and missiles; fire raised fears of a major oil spill. – Vessel salvaged after weeks-long effort. Jul 6, 2025 – Magic Seas (Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated) – Attacked by missiles, drones, gunfire, and four explosive USVs. – Crew rescued; vessel later deliberately sunk. – Houthi video showed militants storming the ship. Jul 9, 2025 – Eternity C (Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned) – Sustained two days of drone and missile strikes. – Sank with five confirmed/presumed dead, 10 missing, and 10 rescued. – Six believed kidnapped by Houthis.
Tariff Tidal Wave: Trump’s Trade War Rattles Markets and Supply Chains
President Trump’s latest tariff blitz is rocking global markets—and triggering a scramble at America’s ports. With duties of up to 40% set to hit imports from 14 nations starting August 1, retailers are rushing to front-load cargo before the storm. Canada alone faces a new 35% tariff, and copper, Brazilian goods, and other key imports are also in the crosshairs.
June saw U.S. container volumes rebound to 2.22 million TEUs, but forecasters warn of steep drops—up to 21%—from August through November. China’s share of imports just hit a four-year low, while Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and Indonesia are rapidly gaining ground.
Investors are jittery, retailers are stockpiling, and the clock is ticking. Buckle up—trade season is heating up fast.
Strait Up Trouble: Piracy Surges in Singapore Corridor
Armed robbery at sea is on the rise—and nowhere more so than the Singapore Straits. The ICC’s IMB and ReCAAP report a dramatic spike in maritime piracy during the first half of 2025, with 57 of 90+ global incidents occurring in this vital shipping lane. That’s four times last year’s count.
The region’s tight channels and slow-moving traffic have made it a hotspot for nighttime boardings—often on large tankers and bulkers—with guns, knives, and engine part thefts increasingly common. The IMB says crews were held hostage in 13 cases, while ReCAAP notes most attacks weren’t violent—but nearly all were successful.
Officials urge shipmasters to increase watchkeeping at night and harden their vessels. Said ReCAAP’s Vijay D. Chafekar: “We need more patrols, more arrests, and more deterrence.”
Hero at the Helm: Korean Officer Wins Coveted IMO Bravery Award
Officer Lee Tae-Young of South Korea will receive the 2025 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for rescuing 12 crewmates from the capsized fishing vessel 135 Geumseongho last November. With no formal SAR training, Lee leapt into action off Jeju Island, tossing life rings to those clinging to the propeller and helping each one aboard the rescue vessel—refusing to leave until everyone else was safe.
The IMO also recognized 22 others with commendations, including Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the Aigaion Pelagos, who boarded the abandoned and burning Sounion in the Red Sea after it was struck by drones. Their actions averted a catastrophic spill of 150,000 metric tons of crude oil and 3,000 tons of fuel, extinguishing fires and stabilizing the vessel under extreme heat and hazardous conditions.
Additional honors went to Japanese Coast Guard divers, U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Michael Diglio, and Canadian aircrew who evacuated 20 seafarers from a disabled ship in icy waters. The awards ceremony will be held in London this November.
Mega Merger Approved: China Set to Launch World’s Largest Shipbuilder
The Shanghai Stock Exchange has greenlit the long-anticipated merger of CSSC and CSIC, paving the way for a $56 billion shipbuilding giant controlling nearly 17% of global orders. Under the $16 billion deal, CSSC will absorb all of CSIC’s assets and operations, with the combined entity retaining the CSSC name.
The move marks the latest step in China’s consolidation of its state-owned maritime powerhouses. Final regulatory approvals are still pending.
Hyundai Drops Anchor in India’s Booming Shipbuilding Market
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has signed a major agreement with India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited, marking Hyundai’s full-scale entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing maritime markets. The partnership will focus on ship design, equipment support, and workforce development as India pushes to become a top 5 shipbuilding nation by 2047.
Until next time, full steam ahead!
— The gCaptain Team
As always, we’d love to hear your feedback. Email [email protected] with any questions, comments, tips, or concerns. Don’t forget to check out the Club Discord and gCaptain.com for the latest maritime news.
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A screengrab from footage shared by the Houthis showing the sinking of the M/V Magic Seas.
Eternity C begins to sink from the stern.
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