Despite initial reports that it was sinking, a Ukrainian-owned ship that was evacuated and burning after a Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden last week remains afloat.
“As per last managers’ statement, the vessel is afloat and under process of securing salvage operations,” the vessel's flag administration of Palau told TradeWinds on Thursday.
“PISR [Palau International Ship Registry] is monitoring closely the case with all relevant parties,” the flag added.
This is the first information to emerge about the 11,400-dwt Verbena (built 2008) since 16 June, when United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the US Navy said the general cargo ship was abandoned by its crew due to an uncontrollable fire on board, with the master reporting that it was sinking.
Both authorities provided no updates since.
This was in stark contrast to the Evalend Shipping-owned, 82,000-dwt Tutor (built 2022), which is now known to have sunk in the Red Sea — as TradeWinds was first to report on 18 June.
It is suggested that Yemen’s Houthi rebels finished off the Tutor with a second sea drone strike after its crew had abandoned ship.
No word, however, had slipped out about the Verbena.
The vessel’s Ukrainian owner, Donbasstransitservice did not respond to TradeWinds’ queries about its fate.
One Nepalese security guard was evacuated and underwent surgery to save his life after the Verbena was hit by two anti-ship missiles on 13 June. Additionally, one seafarer suffered minor injuries.
The remaining crew members were evacuated two or three days later by the 56,300-dwt Anna-Meta (built 2010) — a bulker operated by Germany’s Blumenthal JMK, which responded to the Verbena’s distress call.
US Central Command has said the Verbena was carrying wood construction materials on its voyage.
If it sinks, the Verbena would be the third vessel to go down as a result of Houthi action against shipping since mid-November, after the Tutor and the 32,200-dwt bulker Rubymar (built 1997), which sank in March.
Four seafarers have lost their lives — one on the Tutor and three on the 50,400-dwt True Confidence (built 2011).
Twenty-five crew members remain in Houthi captivity after the 5,100-ceu Galaxy Leader (built 2002) was hijacked.
