Classification
- Incident Type: Security Incident / Sinking
- Severity: High
- Evidence status: Official JMIC incident reporting and weekly assessment, with final casualty figures reported from EU Operation Aspides through the Associated Press.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel name | Eternity C |
| Vessel type | Bulk carrier |
| Flag state | Liberia |
| IMO number | 9588249 |
| MMSI | 636015837 |
| Gross tonnage | 22,683 |
| Length overall | 186 m |
| Breadth | 28 m |
| Bollard pull | |
| Power | |
| Owner/operator | Greek-owned; operator not identified |
| Year built | 2012 |
| Crew size |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025-07-07; sinking reported on 2025-07-09 |
| Time | |
| Location | Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb |
| Coordinates | 14.0000, 42.0000 |
| Region | Red Sea |
| Fatalities | At least 4 presumed dead |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 11 |
| Direct damage | Severe attack damage, loss of propulsion, and sinking. |
| Estimated economic damage | |
| Environmental damage | Oil slicks were reported by satellite imagery after the sinking. |
Key facts
- The JMIC chronology records attacks beginning at 16:34 UTC on 7 July, followed by aft damage, crew injuries, loss of propulsion, and severe engine-room damage.
- The JMIC weekly dashboard says the vessel eventually sank in the Southern Red Sea and describes some crew members as critically injured.
- AP reported that 10 people were recovered alive, at least four were presumed dead, and 11 remained missing after the search ended.
- The vessel was Liberian-flagged, IMO 9588249, and was reported by AP as Greek-owned.
- AP reported oil slicks visible in satellite imagery after the sinking.
Narrative
On 7 July 2025, Eternity C was transiting the Southern Red Sea in the Bab al-Mandeb area. The JMIC Information Note records an initial report at 16:34 UTC that multiple small craft were firing RPGs at the vessel. At 17:33 UTC the company security officer reported damage to the aft portion and crew injuries. Further reports recorded additional damage and loss of propulsion at 17:59 UTC, followed by severe damage to the engine room at 18:32 UTC.
At 03:22 UTC on 8 July, the master of Sea Puma observed that Eternity C had a notable list. At 03:50 UTC, Sea Puma reported VHF communications concerning crew injuries. The JMIC weekly dashboard subsequently described the attack as causing severe damage and loss of propulsion, and recorded that Eternity C eventually sank in the Southern Red Sea. The dashboard also described some crew members as critically injured.
The final casualty position comes from the later AP report, which cited security firms and the EU's Operation Aspides. Ten people were recovered alive, including eight Filipino crew members and two members of the three-person security team. At least four people were presumed dead and 11 remained unaccounted for when the search ended. AP also reported that satellite imagery showed long oil slicks from the sinking site.
JMIC assessed that the attack was connected to recent Israeli port calls by vessels within the company structure. That is an operational assessment, not a judicial finding. No final official investigation into the attack, sinking, or casualty accounting was identified in the sources reviewed.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025-07-07 16:34 UTC | UKMTO was informed that multiple small craft were attacking Eternity C with RPGs. |
| 2025-07-07 17:33 UTC | The company security officer reported aft damage and crew injuries. |
| 2025-07-07 17:59 UTC | Additional damage and loss of propulsion were reported. |
| 2025-07-07 18:32 UTC | Severe engine-room damage was reported. |
| 2025-07-08 03:22 UTC | Sea Puma observed a notable list on Eternity C. |
| 2025-07-08 03:50 UTC | Sea Puma reported VHF communications concerning crew injuries. |
| 2025-07-09 | AP reported that Eternity C had sunk; later reporting recorded 10 survivors recovered, at least four presumed dead, and 11 missing. |
Investigation
The Joint Maritime Information Center issued incident reporting and a weekly assessment, but these are not a final casualty or causal investigation. No final official investigation was identified in the sources reviewed. The casualty figures remain qualified because the cited EU and AP reporting describes four deaths as presumed rather than confirmed by a completed investigation.
References
- JMIC Information Note 118
- JMIC Week 28 dashboard, 7-13 July 2025
- Associated Press: Search for missing ends after Yemen rebels sink ship
- Associated Press: EU naval mission says four presumed dead and 11 missing