A serious incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, July 6, 2025, when a ship sailing off the coast of Yemen, approximately 95 kilometers southwest of the port of Hodeidah, came under attack by the Houthies from small boats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). News reports suggest that the ship is now sinking.
The incident marked the first Houthi attack on merchant ships this year, and setting back any plans for a significant return of the global merchant fleet to the Suez Canal.
According to the official statement from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was surrounded by small speedboats that opened fire with light weapons and launched grenades. The ship’s armed security team returned fire.
Specifically, according to available information, the commercial vessel had not requested escort or protection from the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES mission and was attacked by eight armed speedboats, which launched at least twenty RPG-type anti-tank rockets, as well as four unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The ship’s security team managed to intercept two of the four USVs, while the other two struck the vessel.
Additionally, the ship was targeted by three anti-ship missiles. Two of them hit the vessel, while the third missed. As a result of the attacks, the MV MAGIC SEAS began taking on water and is now sinking.
So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported among the crew. The 22 crew members (17 Filipino nationals, 1 Romanian, 1 Vietnamese, and 3 Sri Lankan members of the security team) were safely rescued by a passing merchant ship, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and maritime security firm Ambrey..