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Star Bulk retreats from endangered Red Sea waters after attacks

After two missile attacks by the Houthi militia on its ships within a week, the latest being the 'Star Iris' on Feb 12, the Greek shipping company Star Bulk retreated from the endangered waters. The CEO, Petros Pappas, has now stopped the shipping company's ships sailing through the Red Sea, where merchant ships have been attacked in more than 50 cases. The two Star Bulk-owned ships that were attacked within a week had been chartered out, and the top commander had called for the ships not to sail through the Red Sea before the attacks. But he could only encourage - not enforce his wish. The number of shipping companies that choose to sail around the dangerous waters is growing with Star Bulk's decision. Maersk was among the first container shipping companies to make the decision to take the long detour south of Africa. Since then, most other large container shipping companies have followed suit, as have other shipping companies, e.g. Danish Torm and Hafnia and Swedish Stena Bulk.

Bulk carrier damaged by Houthi missiles

In the morning of Feb 12, 2024, the 'Star Iris', was targeted twice in the space of 20 minutes by Houthi missiles while transiting the Bab al Mandab Strait in the Red Sea in a southeast direction. The ship had sailed from Vila do Conde port on Jan 12 and was bound to the port of Bandar Imam Khomeini with an ETA as of Feb 19. The ship suffered damage on its starboard side. No injuries among the crew were reported. The attack was the 51st on merchant ships since the start of November.