An unusual email landed in the personal inbox of a senior executive at a prominent Greek shipping company just before midnight. What appeared to be a routine correspondence quickly spiraled into a significant concern, as the email cautioned that one of the company’s ships traversing the Red Sea was at risk of being targeted by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militia.
This particular ship had breached a Houthi-imposed transit ban by docking at an Israeli port, prompting the warning that it would be “directly targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces in any area they deem appropriate.” The email, accessed by news agency Reuters, said, “You bear the responsibility and consequences of including the vessel in the ban list.”
This was not an isolated incident. The communication marked the beginning of a series of increasingly alarming emails sent to at least six Greek shipping companies since late May, amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Reuters quoting sources within the industry reported that this was just the tip of the iceberg in a broader campaign by the Houthis, who have launched nearly 100 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November, striking in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The warnings escalated in severity, with one email threatening “sanctions” against entire fleets if vessels continued to disregard the Houthi transit ban. In one particularly stark communication sent from a Yemeni government domain, the message stated, “Your ships breached the decision of Yemen Armed Forces… Therefore, punishments will be imposed on all vessels of your company.”
This expansion of threats to entire shipping fleets marked a new phase in the Houthis’ tactics. Since last year, the group has ramped up its military operations, firing missiles and deploying drones against commercial ships connected to Israeli, US, and UK interests. The recent email campaign highlights the Houthis’ determination to cast a wider net, targeting Greek merchant ships even if they have little to no connection to Israel.
The ramifications of these threats are profound. Greek-owned vessels account for approximately 30% of Houthi attacks on shipping, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data. The situation has prompted many shipping companies to reevaluate their routes. The traffic through the Suez Canal has dropped significantly, falling from around 2,000 transits per month before November 2023 to just 800 in August, as cargo vessels opt for longer, safer paths around Africa to avoid the Red Sea.
Adding to the tensions, the European Union’s naval force, Aspides, confirmed in a recent closed-door meeting that the Houthis had shifted their strategy to include broader threats. They advised ship owners to disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection, highlighting a chilling reality: the Houthis’ missile strikes have shown a staggering 75% accuracy against vessels with AIS on, compared to only 4% accuracy against those that turned it off.
An executive from a shipping firm that received the Houthi threat emphasised the difficult balancing act between contractual obligations and the safety of their crews. “If safe transit through the Red Sea cannot be guaranteed, companies have a duty to act – even if that means delaying their delivery windows,” said Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
The ongoing threats and attacks have significantly impacted insurance rates for Western ship owners, with some insurers suspending coverage altogether. Conbulk Shipmanagement Corporation, a Greece-based firm, halted all Red Sea voyages following multiple attacks on its vessel, citing crew safety as a top priority. CEO Dimitris Dalakouras remarked at a recent shipping conference, “Once the crew is in danger, all discussion stops.”
The Houthis have not completely halted traffic, offering reassurances to Chinese and Russian-owned vessels, which they do not associate with Israel.
While some companies have opted to avoid the Red Sea entirely, others continue their operations, driven by binding long-term agreements or the pressing need to transfer goods in this vital region. The Red Sea remains the fastest route for delivering goods to consumers in Europe and Asia, but the increasing danger is reshaping the landscape of international shipping.