Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGreece is sending a salvage ship to the Red Sea after Houthi attacks on Greek vessels. The ship aims to assist in maritime accidents and protect shipping.
ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece will deploy a salvage vessel in the Red Sea to assist in maritime accidents and protect seafarers and global shipping, the shipping minister said on Thursday, following attacks on two Greek vessels by Yemen's Houthi militants this month.
Two Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated cargo ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C, sank off Yemen after repeated attacks by the Iran-aligned militant group.
The strikes on the two vessels marked a resumption of attacks on shipping by the Houthis, who struck more than 100 ships between November 2023 and December 2024 in what they said was a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the salvage vessel - called Giant and provided by the Hellenic Association of Tugboat Owners - would "support, protect and assist Greek-owned vessels and Greek seafarers".
All of the crew members from the Magic Seas were rescued by a passing ship.
The crew of the Eternity C had to abandon the ship. Ten were rescued by a privately led mission, but five more are feared dead and the Houthis are believed to be holding another 10 crew members, maritime security sources have said.
Aspides, the European Union naval mission protecting shipping in the Red Sea, did not have assets in the area at the time of the incidents.
Giant is manned by a specialist crew of 14 Greek sailors, has four engines with 16,000 horsepower, and can sail in the most adverse weather conditions, the Shipping Ministry said.
It can participate in search and rescue operations, with accommodation for 40 people, help prevent marine pollution and also has firefighting capacity.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou;Editing by Helen Popper)
Greece will deploy a salvage vessel in the Red Sea to assist in maritime accidents and protect seafarers and global shipping.
Both ships sank off Yemen after repeated attacks by the Houthi militant group, with crew members rescued and some feared dead.
The Giant can participate in search and rescue operations, prevent marine pollution, and has firefighting capacity, accommodating up to 40 people.
All crew members from the Magic Seas were rescued by a passing ship.
The EU naval mission Aspides did not have assets in the area at the time of the incidents involving the two cargo ships.
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