Salvage Companies Seek Alternatives After Towing Operation Of Sounion Tanker Deemed Unsafe

The European Union’s naval mission announced on September 3, 2024, that private companies involved in the salvage operation of the MT Sounion, an oil tanker attacked by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea, are seeking alternative solutions after the towing operation was deemed unsafe.

The Greek-register Sounion, hit by Houthi forces on August 21, 2024, is carrying about one million barrels of crude oil.

Both the Houthis and the maritime sources report that the tanker has been rigged with explosives.

The EU naval force Operation Aspides has committed to protecting the tugboats involved in the salvage operation.

The private companies in charge of the salvage operation have determined that the requirements for conducting the towing operation were not met and that it was not safe to proceed.

The potential for an oil spill from the Sounion poses a serious environmental risk.

If the ship spills its load, it might result in one of the largest oil spills in history, surpassing the Exxon Valdez catastrophe of 1989 nearly four times.

The operation is further complicated by ongoing fires onboard and the presence of explosives, which have necessitated a reassessment of the salvage plan.

Despite the threats, the Houthis have permitted the salvage team to tow the ship to safety. The ship’s crew has already been evacuated.

Delta Tankers, the operator of the Sounion, has declined to comment further, referring to Operation Aspides’ statement.

Three people familiar with the issue discussed the risks involved in the salvage operation. One source described the effort as a surgical operation, while another stated that the initial assessments underestimated the complications, demanding increased technical resources and staff.

The Houthis claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized another, and killed at least four seafarers.

Since September 1, 2024, the EU’s Operation Aspides has committed to protecting the tugs involved in the Sounion salvage operation. The mission remains focused on safeguarding merchant vessels’ freedom of navigation.

SMIT Salvage, a Dutch company, has been contracted to handle the salvage operations. This comes a year after SMIT successfully removed 1.1 million barrels of oil from the deteriorating FSO Safer, an abandoned oil storage ship off Yemen’s coast.

The operation, supported by the United Nations, prevented a potential $20 billion environmental disaster.

Reference: Reuters

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