News / Rubymar sinks, with cargo of fertiliser a threat to Red Sea ecosystem

Photo: US Central Command

General-cargo ship Rubymar, abandoned in the Red Sea with its cargo of fertiliser, finally went under on Saturday after a fortnight of gradually sinking, becoming the Israel-Palestine conflict’s first vessel casualty.

The vessel was hit by a Yemeni anti-ship missile on 18 February, after it was linked by the Houthis to a company headquartered in the UK, and subsequently described as “British” in all their communications.

Gradually taking on water, the vessel was refused entry to ports in the UAE, Africa, Saudi ...