The situation in the Red Sea has become so tense these days that ships have to publicly reveal their identity instead of hiding it—that too on the basis of religion. Recently, many ships have started putting messages on their AIS tracking systems such as “All Crew Muslim”, “No Connection with Israel” or “All-Chinese Crew and Management”, to avoid attacks by Houthi rebels.
This fear is not just a rumor—this week Houthi rebels targeted and sank two ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C. There were 25 people on board Eternity C, of whom only six could be rescued and three died. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has clearly said that any company carrying goods related to Israel will be sunk in the sea1.
Why has the threat increased?
- Since November 2023, Houthi rebels have attacked more than 100 ships in the Red Sea.
- They claim that these attacks are being carried out in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war.
- After the recent attacks, there has been a huge decline in ship movement in the Red Sea.
Religion and nationality messages on AIS tracking
- All-Chinese Crew and Management
- Armed Guards Onboard
- All Crew Muslim
- No Israeli Connection
These messages are now visible on the public profiles of ships, so that Houthi rebels do not target them.
Impact on insurance and security
- According to insurance company Aon, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait have now become high-risk zones.
- Insurance costs have doubled and some companies have temporarily stopped providing insurance.
- Ship owners now have to check every small and big Israeli link, yet the threat remains.
Will the crisis escalate further?
Experts believe that the strategy of Houthi rebels is very deep and planned. They have previously targeted Chinese and Russian ships as well, while earlier it was claimed that they would not be disturbed.
The Red Sea, which is an important sea route for global trade, is now becoming like a war zone. Telling religion and nationality to save ships is an example of this. This is an indication of how serious the situation has become.