The Greek-owned bulk carrier ‘MV MAGIC SEAS,’ which was attacked with projectiles in the Red Sea this Sunday, is sinking, and its 22-member crew is being rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard, reports the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

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The 22 crew members (17 Filipino nationals, 1 Romanian national, 1 Vietnamese national and 3 Sri Lankan nationals who are members of the security team) are rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard forces.

The vessel, owned by the Greek company ‘All Seas Marine,’ was attacked by speedboats whose crew members set fire with small arms and with at least 20 RPG-type anti-tank projectiles and three anti-ship missiles, according to the same source.

Suspicion immediately fell on the Houthis. The rebel media reported on the attack, but did not take responsibility.

According to data available on maritime tracking platforms, the 200-metre long freighter Magic Seas, built in 2016, flying the flag of Liberia but owned by the Greek company ‘Stem Shipping’, based in Athens, it came from the port of Zhuhai in southern China and has indicated as destination the Suez Canal.

The entity of the British Navy Maritime Commercial Operations (UKMTO) had reported this Sunday already that a ship had been attacked “by several small boats which opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades” about 51 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port city of Al Hodeidah.

The vessel had not requested escort or protection from EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES. At the time of the incident, no EUNAVFOR ASPIDES vessel was in close proximity to the merchant vessel. As reported, this is the first attack on a merchant vessel in the Red Sea since November 2024.

UMKTO indicated in an update that the company’s security officer confirmed that the ship “was hit by unknown projectiles, which caused a fire on board,” without providing further details of the situation.

Two of the anti-ship missiles hit the freighter, while the third failed, but “as a result of the attacks, the Magic Seas is sinking,” Kathimerini reports, as other Greek media point out that a waterway would have opened in the bulk carrier, without mentioning that it would be sinking.

A spokeswoman for the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs was also unable to confirm to Spanish press agency EFE that the ship was sinking, but did confirm that it was attacked and that there were no Greek citizens among the crew.

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