Rubymar cargo ship earlier hit by Houthis has sunk, Yemeni government says

The UK-owned bulk carrier was struck on February 18 with multiple missiles resulting in an oil slick in the Red Sea.

The cargo ship Rubymar, which was abandoned in the southern Red Sea after being targeted by Houthi rebels last month, has sunk, according to Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

“The MV Rubymar sank last night, coinciding with weather factors and strong winds at sea,” a crisis cell of Yemen’s government in charge of the case said in a statement on Saturday.

A military official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity as no authorisation was given to speak to journalists, confirmed the incident. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO), which watches over Middle East waterways, separately also acknowledged the Rubymar’s sinking, AP reported.

However, Roy Khoury, chief executive of the ship’s operator Blue Fleet, told the AFP news agency he was unaware of the sinking. “We have nobody on board to check if it’s true or not,” he said.

The Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship which transported combustible fertilisers, was hit by missiles on February 18 while sailing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The crew then abandoned the vessel and evacuated to safety.