Latest News

After US-Houthi truce deal, seafarers stuck in Yemen ports are looking for a way out

Sources from maritime unions and maritime sources confirmed on Thursday that 200 seafarers stuck aboard 15 ships for weeks near the port of Ras-Isa in Yemen are now preparing to unload their cargoes and depart thanks to a truce agreement between Houthi militias and the U.S.

Officials from the maritime sector said that the threat level for shipping was still high, given the Houthis' declaration that Israeli assets were open to attack, and the associated risks to shipping in general. In the past, ships with no connection to Israel were targeted and there was no guarantee of safe passage.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. will stop bombing Iran-aligned Houthis (in Yemen) because they have agreed to stop attacking U.S. vessels in Red Sea waters near the Arabian Peninsula.

The deal, however, does not cover Israel, a close U.S. allie, as the Houthis said on Wednesday. This suggests that the Houthis' attacks on ships in solidarity with Palestinian militants who are fighting Israel in Gaza may not be completely halted.

The U.S. has been bombing Yemen for nearly two months. This campaign caused heavy damage to Houthis and had a spillover effect on shipping in Ras Isa, which is a vital artery of world trade.

According to the International Transport Workers' Federation, the largest seafarers' union, several crew members were injured on ships near the U.S. airstrikes, and Houthis prevented two vessels from leaving.

According to a Houthi official, following the agreement reached with Washington, ships will now be able enter Ras Isa without any issues, unload their cargoes, and leave.

According to data from the MarineTraffic platform, at least one vessel - mostly tankers transporting fuel supplies and liquefied gas - began discharging cargo Thursday.

A SAFE Passage is not guaranteed

Seafarers remain concerned by Israeli attacks against Houthi targets, despite the fact that the risk of colliding damage has decreased.

Shipping sources reported that in response to Houthi-launched drones at Israel during the past week Israeli warplanes struck the major Yemeni Red Sea Port of Hodeidah and caused some damage.

Captain of one vessel, who refused to be named due to the sensitive nature of the situation, said that some of the vessels stranded in Ras Isa have been waiting weeks to discharge and are urgently trying to leave the area.

Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secratary, said: "The ITF works urgently to help these crews. But they need more than just words. They need safe passage back home."

Since November 2023 the Houthis has launched more than 100 attacks against ships plying in the Red Sea, claiming to be acting in support for Palestinians in Israel-besieged Gaza. The Houthis have sunk or seized two ships, killed four seafarers and seized another. Since January of this year, there have been no attacks.

Many shipping companies have stopped voyages through Red Sea due to uncertainty about whether the ceasefire agreement will hold.

Lasse Kristoffersen is the CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen. He said on Thursday that they do not send in ships until they are certain that everyone on board is safe.

We have no evidence to support that at the moment. Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Mohammad Ghobari and Marie Mannes from Stockholm. Editing by Mark Heinrich.

(source: Reuters)