Engine Room Flooding Forces Cargo Ship Crew To Abandon Vessel In Red Sea

Twenty crew members of the MV ISA STAR, a Panama-flagged cargo ship were rescued in the Red Sea on December 5 after the vessel sent out a distress call.

The EU’s naval mission, Operation Aspides, confirmed that all crew members were safely evacuated and are being transported to Djibouti, the nearest safe port.

The incident happened about 100 nautical miles off the port of Hodeidah, Yemen. The ship’s captain reported severe flooding in the engine room and informed authorities that the crew needed to abandon the vessel.

While some reports reveal the flooding was caused by an internal explosion, others point to engine problems. The exact cause is still unclear, and there are no immediate details on the condition of the ship.

Images shared by EUNAVFOR show the ISA STAR heavily tilted at the stern, with major damage.

The vessel, which was travelling southbound in ballast (without cargo), departed from Italy on November 19 and made a stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 3. It was headed for Indonesia.

Rescue operations were coordinated by Operation Aspides, with the French frigate FS Languedoc dispatched to assist. The EU naval mission has been actively operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to ensure the safety of merchant vessels, especially near high-risk zones.

The incident has raised concerns due to the proximity of its location to Houthi-controlled territory. Since November 2023, Houthi forces have been targeting international shipping in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

However, officials have said there is no evidence linking this event to Houthi activity, calling it a technical or mechanical issue instead.

The ISA STAR, built in 2000, has changed names and ownership several times over the years. It is currently managed by UAE-based Azimuth Ship Management and owned by a Hong Kong company.

Records show that the ship has faced multiple deficiencies during port inspections in the past, although it hasn’t been detained since 2022 under its previous management.

Operation Aspides, led by the Hellenic Navy, has been working in the region for the past nine months. The mission, which includes ships from France, Greece and Italy, focuses on protecting merchant vessels and building strategic alliances in a challenging maritime environment.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the explosion and flooding.

References: Reuters, Port News

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