On 07 July 2025, the Ambrey team conducted a Search and Rescue operation after another Houthi attack disabled and sank the bulk carrier Eternity C, working to recover the crew in an area which had seen two vessels destroyed in the preceding days and where international naval forces were unable to operate.
The first indication of the incident came at 17:37 on Monday, 07 July (all timings BST), when the team in the Ambrey Global Operations Centre (GOC) in Southampton received a message from a nearby vessel that Eternity C was under attack by drones and armed boats. This came less than a day after the Ambrey team had coordinated the recovery of the crew of the vessel Magic Seas following a similar attack.
An Ambrey security team, embarked on a third vessel, also relayed the Mayday message broadcast by the Eternity C to the GOC, highlighting that she was on fire and that some of the crew had been injured. Reports of this attack continued throughout the night, with the crew taking the decision to abandon ship at 06:30 on Tuesday, 08 July, but being unable to do so because of the damage sustained by the vessel’s lifeboat. Eventually, at 10:00 hrs on Tuesday, 08 July, the crew of the Eternity C jumped into the water whilst the attack on their vessel continued.
Behind the scenes, the Ambrey Global Response team had been collaborating with the vessel’s security provider, to secure the owner’s agreement to a recovery of the crew. The Ambrey-owned Al Bahia had already been mobilised to the area following the attack on the Magic Seas, and at 17:30 on Tuesday, 08 July, the Al Bahia and her crew were tasked to conduct a Search and Rescue operation for the crew of the Eternity C. As the Al Bahia approached the scene, she repeatedly hailed the Eternity C and, as night fell, bravely navigated into the hostile environment toward the stricken vessel in an attempt to establish communications. Shortly after midnight, in the pitch dark and less than a mile from the Eternity C, the Al Bahia was surrounded by skiffs – which the captain and the crew assumed were crewed by the Houthi attackers. Pulling back, she waited for daylight.
As dawn broke on 09 July, the Al Bahia moved back towards the Eternity C and at 06:37 identified some of the crew in the water, quickly recovering five who were swimming from the area. Shortly after, the Al Bahia lost radar contact with the Eternity C as she finally sank.
The operation then changed to a full-blown Search and Rescue mission, based on information from the survivors that other crew members were also in the water. Al Bahia, supported by the Ambrey maritime operations officers in Southampton, adopted a search pattern based on the last known position of the Eternity C, her location at the point where the crew abandoned ship and their predicted drift. Over the next 48 hours the crew of the Al Bahia searched 96 square miles of sea, successfully recovering a further five crew members, the last of whom had been in the water for over two days. All the time, the crew of the Al Bahia were acutely aware of the continued threat of Houthi attacks but continued their search to recover the stricken crew. At 13:44 on 11 July, the search was finally concluded.
Our team of experienced maritime operations officers and analysts in Southampton offered crucial support, providing both reassurance to the crew of the Al Bahia and the analysis and insight necessary to execute an effective search pattern. It was also the unwavering commitment of the vessel’s owner that enabled the Al Bahia to continue operating in such a high-risk environment. Finally, it was the dedication of the Global Response team, which harnessed its extensive network of diplomatic contacts and allowed the crew of the Eternity C to be repatriated via the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2025 IMRF Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations
Winner: Ambrey, UK, and the crew of the Al Bahia, Djibouti
“The Ambrey team and the crew of the Al Bahia received the award for their extraordinary courage and professionalism during the rescue of the Eternity C crew following an attack by drones and armed boats. Demonstrating exceptional coordination and determination, the Ambrey Global Operations Centre in Southampton, alongside the crew of the Al Bahia, searched 96 square miles over 48 hours, successfully recovering ten mariners and ensuring their safe repatriation through complex diplomatic negotiations.”
IMRF Awards are in recognition of those involved in global maritime search and rescue (SAR) efforts. The awards acknowledge those who have shown excellence in their field, developed innovative technology and equipment or acted as role models to inspire others.
