Burning oil tanker in Red Sea towed to safety after Houthi rebels attack

A major disaster was averted in the Red Sea as a burning oil tanker of Greece was towed to a safe area in the sea without any oil spill.

The MV Delta Sounion, which was burning after the Yemen backed Houthi rebels attacked the vessel on August 21, was rescued in a three day effort, an EU Mission said.

The MV Sounion’s destination wasn’t known but Saudi Arabia has offered to help and offload the oil in the vessel. A photo which was released by the EU Mission showed three vessels and they belong to “private stakeholders”.

Update on MV SOUNION salvage status

Under protection of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES 🇪🇺, MV SOUNION has been successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill. While private stakeholders complete the salvage operation, ASPIDES will continue to monitor the situation.

The completion of… pic.twitter.com/FJrk9JGNUg

— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) September 16, 2024

“The completion of this phase of the salvage operation is the result of a comprehensive approach and close cooperation between all stakeholders committed to prevent an environmental disaster affecting the whole region,” the EU’s Operation Aspides said on X.

Military vessels escort tugboats as they sail towards the damaged Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which has been on fire since August 23, after an attack by Houthi militants, on the Red Sea, September 14, 2024 in this handout image. (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES/Handout via REUTERS)

The Houthi militant group, based in Yemen, have vowed to disrupt the Red Sea vessel supply route in order to show support and sympathy towards Palestinians in Gaza against the Israel led war in the country.

Giving an update on the rescue efforts, EU’s Operation Aspides said, “MV SOUNION has been successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill. While private stakeholders complete the salvage operation, ASPIDES will continue to monitor the situation.”

In the attack on MV Sounion, no crew members were injured but a larger impact on the environment was at stake due to the spilling of oil in the Red Sea.

If the Sounion’s oil was spilled, it could have been almost four times larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which saw 2,100 km of coastline contaminated after a tanker ran aground off Alaska, according to a BBC report.

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