Britain warns of environmental disaster threatening Yemen's coast after Houthi attack on ship carrying 150,000 tons of oil

British Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif warned on Thursday of an environmental disaster threatening Yemen's coasts after the Houthi attack on the oil tanker Sunion in the Red Sea.

Sharif explained, in a brief statement via her account on the X platform, that "another Houthi attack threatens the coasts of Yemen and fishermen and portends an environmental disaster."

"Fortunately, the crew of the MV Sounion , which was carrying 150,000 tons of oil, were rescued, but it became lost (severely damaged and stuck) at sea," she added.

The British Ambassador renewed her call on the Houthis to "stop these reckless and illegal attacks."

Another Houthi attack threatens the coast of Yemen, its fishermen and threatens an environmental disaster. Fortunately, the crew was rescued, but the MV Sunion, carrying 150,000 tons of oil, is now lost at sea. We call on the Houthis once again to stop these reckless and illegal attacks.

- Abda Sharif (@abda_sharif) August 22, 2024

Earlier today, the European Union Red Sea mission announced that it had transferred the crew of the oil tanker M/V Sonion to Djibouti, at the captain's request.

"The tanker Sunion, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, currently poses a navigational and environmental hazard," the Espdis mission said in a post on the X platform.

The Joint Maritime Information Center, run by a Western naval coalition, reported that the ship had been abandoned and was currently stranded in the Red Sea between Eritrea and Yemen, noting that the fire had been contained and that one crew member had sustained minor injuries.

For its part, Delta Tankers, the ship's owner, confirmed in a statement that "there are plans to move the ship to a safer destination where a full assessment (inspections and repairs) can be conducted." The company did not specify where it intends to move the ship.

The Greek shipping ministry said the ship was sailing from Iraq to Agioi Theodoroi in Greece with a crew of two Russians and 23 Filipinos on board.

Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides on Wednesday condemned the attack on the Sunion, saying it was a “flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to the safety of international shipping.”

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies