Indian cargo vessel sinks off Yemen after attack; all 14 crew rescued
ALBAWABA- An Indian mechanized sailing vessel sank off Yemen on Tuesday after being struck by a projectile near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, with all 14 crew members rescued safely by the Yemeni Coast Guard.
The MSV Faize Noore Oliya capsized and sank after the attack near Yemeni waters. The crew—13 Indian nationals and one foreign seafarer—were rescued and taken to the Port of Mokha, according to Indian and Yemeni authorities.
Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard forces in the Red Sea rescued all 14 crew members of an Indian cargo vessel that came under attack and sank off the coast of Hodeidah Governorate in western Yemen.
The commercial vessel, MV Faize Noriy Ala, was struck by an explosive-laden boat while sailing about 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah city, sustaining a direct hit before sinking in the Red Sea.
A joint rescue operation by the Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard successfully evacuated all crew members without any loss of life. The survivors include 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni sailor. They were transported to a safe location, where they received medical attention and first aid following their rescue.
India’s Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, condemned the incident as an “unprovoked attack” on an unarmed commercial vessel.
“The safety of our people is our supreme priority,” Sonowal said, expressing relief that all crew members survived. He directed the Director General of Maritime Administration to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region and to provide assistance to the rescued crew.
According to reports, the vessel was attacked about 13 nautical miles south of the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Some reports said the ship was struck by a remotely operated explosive-laden boat believed to be linked to Houthi-aligned forces, although no group had claimed responsibility at the time of the minister’s statement.
The incident underscores the continuing security risks facing commercial shipping in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait and the southern Red Sea have been the scene of repeated attacks on merchant vessels by Houthi forces using missiles, drones and explosive boats, disrupting global trade, driving up shipping insurance costs and prompting sustained international naval security operations.
The attack also comes amid heightened regional maritime tensions. Earlier this year, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz led to naval confrontations, attacks on commercial vessels—including several carrying Indian crews—and significant disruptions to global energy and shipping routes.
