Savior in Sea: Sailor Survives Huthi Raid in Red Ocean
Red Sea skirmish leaves Filipino crew in peril
Sudden assault on Greek‑owned Magic Seas
On 6 July, the 38‑year‑old Filipino seafarer Cocoy was resting in his cabin aboard the cargo ship when the captain’s intercom blared, “We are under attack.”
The shout heralded a hail of gunfire exchanged between Huthi rebels and ship security. Small boats swarmed the vessel from every direction, while a larger boarding boat carrying 15 rebel crew attempts to breach the hull. Armed guards from Sri Lanka fought back, but projectiles continued to strike.
Chaos and protocol
- Crew members rushed to the central muster station, the safest spot if a projectile hit.
- Cocoy described a sense of panic but also an “autopilot” reaction.
- He noted that the security team “detected speedboats from the right, left, and back.”
- “A bigger boat, with around 15 crew, tried to board, but our armed guards stopped them.”
Five months of restraint broken
The Huthi attack “broke a months‑long lull that erupted after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.”
A Huthi spokesman claimed that the assault involved five ballistic and cruise missiles and three drones.
Despite the heavy barrage, “the flooding had started,” and the crew abandoned the ship.
All 22 aboard the Magic Seas, 17 Filipino, fished out the lifeboat and withdrew from the sinking vessel.
Filipino sailors in the global fleet
Filipino seafarers represent about 30 % of the world’s commercial shipping force. In 2023 they earned roughly $7 billion, a fifth of the Philippines’ remittance inflow. For many, the Red Sea is a decisive test of safety.
Mid‑night memories and fear for the absent crew
“During the gunfight, the faces of my wife and child flashed before my eyes. I kept thinking… will they survive without me?”
Cocoy confessed that the ordeal left him with nightmares and a question about returning to the sea.
Aftermath: Another tragedy
One day after the Magic Seas incident, the Eternity C, another vessel with predominantly Filipino crew, was attacked and sunk. Ten passengers were rescued; 15 remain dead or missing. The deadliest such assault since March of last year.
Eight Filipino survivors were flown to Manila’s international airport. Iran‑backed Huthis claimed they had “rescued” some of the Eternity C’s crew, prompting a U.S. investigation into possible kidnapping. The Philippine government has yet to release details on potential hostages or negotiations.
Despair and hope
Cocoy expressed terror for the missing Eternity C crew, praying for their survival.
He urged shipowners “to find routes that avoid the Red Sea”—an appeal that echoes beyond the immediate incident.
