The Greek-owned Tutor, a coal carrier, is reported to have sunk in the Red Sea a week after an attack by Yemen’s Houthis.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors commercial shipping for owners and the military in this vital waterway, indicated on Tuesday that debris and oil were observed near the ship’s last known position.

In an update, UKMTO stated, “The vessel is believed to have sunk in position 14″19’N 041″14’E,” and advised other ships to proceed with caution in the vicinity.

The Tutor was struck by missiles and an explosive-laden drone boat on June 12 off the coast of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, causing it to take on water, previous reports from UKMTO, the Houthis, and other sources revealed.

One crew member, who is thought to have been in the engine room during the attacks, remains unaccounted for.

If confirmed, this would mark the second vessel sunk by the Houthis after the UK-owned Rubymar, which was transporting over 41,000 tonnes of fertiliser and sunk on March 2, a few weeks after being hit by Houthi missiles.

Since November 2023, the Houthis, involved in a conflict with a Saudi-led coalition after overthrowing Yemen’s internationally-recognised government in 2014, have been targeting ships with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza, where thousands have died.

Recently, the Houthis also damaged the Palau-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, and Polish-operated Verbena, which was transporting timber from Malaysia to Italy, forcing the crew to abandon ship due to fires caused by the attacks. The Verbena is now adrift in the Gulf of Aden, at risk of sinking or further assaults.

Since November, the Houthis have seized another vessel and killed three merchant sailors in separate incidents.

These attacks have caused disruptions in global trade, prompting ship owners to reroute away from the Suez Canal and take longer courses around Africa’s southern tip, adding as much as 3,500 nautical miles (6,500km) to their journeys.