Maritime experts will resume a high-risk operation this week to salvage the Greek oil tanker Sounion carrying around one million barrels of crude oil, maritime sources reported on Thursday. As Reuters informed, officials warned the operation is especially delicate, with any spill potentially causing one of the largest oil disasters.

The Sounion, owned by Greek company Delta Tankers, was struck near Yemen’s port of Hodeidah on 21 August 2024 and caught fire two days later.

On 12 September, Sounion remained on fire after it was attacked in the Red Sea, UNAVFOR ASPIDES, an EU military mission in the Red Sea, reported on X.

According to UNAVFOR ASPIDES, the vessel is currently anchored, not drifting and there are no signs of an oil spill from the main cargo hold.

Two tugboats from a Greek salvage company are already in the area to handle towage, sources confirmed, along with French and Greek frigates involved in the UNAVFOR ASPIDES operation.

Despite progress, the operation remains complicated by threats from the Houthis, further endangering the salvage teams, according to a U.N. briefing on Thursday.

“To prevent an environmental disaster, public, and private organisations and actors must work closely together. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES stands ready to facilitate a new salvage operation in the coming days by protecting the commercially chartered ships that will tow the ship to a safe location,” the mission added.

Last week, the private companies responsible for the salvage of the Sounion concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed with the operation.

Source: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES / X

Maritime experts will resume a high-risk operation this week to salvage the Greek oil tanker Sounion carrying around one million barrels of crude oil, maritime sources reported on Thursday. As Reuters informed, officials warned the operation is especially delicate, with any spill potentially causing one of the largest oil disasters.

The Sounion, owned by Greek company Delta Tankers, was struck near Yemen’s port of Hodeidah on 21 August 2024 and caught fire two days later.

On 12 September, Sounion remained on fire after it was attacked in the Red Sea, UNAVFOR ASPIDES, an EU military mission in the Red Sea, reported on X.

According to UNAVFOR ASPIDES, the vessel is currently anchored, not drifting and there are no signs of an oil spill from the main cargo hold.

Two tugboats from a Greek salvage company are already in the area to handle towage, sources confirmed, along with French and Greek frigates involved in the UNAVFOR ASPIDES operation.

Despite progress, the operation remains complicated by threats from the Houthis, further endangering the salvage teams, according to a U.N. briefing on Thursday.

“To prevent an environmental disaster, public, and private organisations and actors must work closely together. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES stands ready to facilitate a new salvage operation in the coming days by protecting the commercially chartered ships that will tow the ship to a safe location,” the mission added.

Last week, the private companies responsible for the salvage of the Sounion concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed with the operation.

Source: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES / X