"No oil spill yet" Aspedas studies the location of the tanker Sunion in the Red Sea

Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a source, that the European Union's naval mission in the Red Sea (Aspedes) is considering taking precautionary measures, including towing the oil tanker MV Sunion, which was recently attacked off the coast of Yemen.

Aspidis also said on Wednesday that there was no oil spill in the area of the Sunion tanker, adding that the Greek-flagged oil tanker remained anchored and was not drifting.

On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that the Greek-flagged crude oil tanker "Sunion" is still on fire in the Red Sea and is now apparently leaking oil after being attacked by the Yemeni Houthi group.

The spokesman added that a third party tried to send two tugs to help rescue the "Sunion", but the Houthis threatened to attack them, noting that the tanker is carrying about one million barrels of crude oil.

He continued: "These reckless terrorist acts continue to destabilize global and regional trade, endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, and threaten the vital marine ecosystem in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis' backyard."

The spokesman said the US military is working with other partners in the region to determine how to assist the ship and mitigate the potential environmental impact.

On Friday, the UK Maritime Transport Authority said it had received a report of three fires on board the oil tanker Sunion anchored in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.

Aspidis said on Thursday that the oil tanker Sunion now poses an environmental risk after being attacked in the Red Sea.

The Greek-flagged tanker is carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil and its crew was evacuated after it was targeted by several projectiles on Wednesday off Hodeidah in Yemen.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had directly hit the ship while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Source: Agencies