Very Slowly: Operation to Tow Oil Tanker Targeted by Houthis Off Yemen Begins

The European Union's Red Sea military mission, Aspedas, announced on Sunday that the Greek ship, Sunion, is currently being towed to a "safe location in a complex, multi-stage operation," about 3 weeks after it was targeted by the Houthis.

"The rescue operation of the MV Sounion is a complex operation consisting of several stages," the European mission said in a statement via the XN platform.

She added: "The tugboats succeeded in contacting the ship, and the ship (laden with oil) is currently being towed to a safe place."

"By providing protection for this operation, the EU Naval Force contributes to strengthening maritime and environmental security," she added, without giving details.

In the context, Agence France-Presse reported, on Sunday, from a Greek military source, that the process of towing this ship, which flies the Greek flag and is carrying more than a million barrels of crude oil, "is proceeding at a very slow pace. The tanker was initially heading north," without specifying its destination.

"When it reaches a safe anchorage, there will be an attempt to extinguish the fire and measures will be taken to prevent the cargo from leaking," the source added.

Update on the MV SOUNION salvage status

The salvage of the MV SOUNION is a complex operation and consists of various phases.

The tug boats have successfully connected to the vessel and the towing of the MV SOUNION to a safe location is in progress.

By providing protection to… pic.twitter.com/FX47QOsJLq

- EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) September 15, 2024

On Saturday, the operation to tow the tanker Sunion began, according to what a source in the Greek Ministry of Defense told Agence France-Presse.

The source said that the tugboat "Ion Pelagos" began towing the tanker gradually towards the north, accompanied by military ships, adding that the ships' radars were turned off for security reasons.

He explained that a rescue team boarded the ship and attached towing cables amid "unfavourable conditions".

The Greek News Agency reported that the tugboat was accompanied by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces team, without revealing its nationality.

The European Aspidis mission deployed in the region had earlier declared that Qatar Sunion was "essential to avoid a potential environmental disaster in the region."

Its rupture or sinking threatens to cause an oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill off the coast of Alaska.

Earlier this month, an attempt was made to rescue Sunion, but Aspidis said the private companies involved deemed the operation "unsafe."

The tanker Sunion, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, caught fire and lost propulsion after being attacked on August 21. Its 25 crew members were evacuated the next day by a French frigate from the Aspedes mission.

Days after the attack, the Houthis announced that they had detonated explosive devices on the ship's deck, causing new fires.

Aspidis said Friday that the ship was still on fire as of September 12, but there were no signs of oil leaking from the main hold.

For months, the Houthis, who control large areas of Yemen, have been targeting ships they believe are linked to Israel, the United States and Britain, justifying this by showing solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the context of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Their attacks have disrupted navigation in this vital maritime area for global trade, prompting the United States to create an international naval coalition and carry out strikes on rebel targets in Yemen, some of which involved Britain.

Since November, Houthi attacks have killed at least four sailors and sunk two ships, including the tanker Robimar, which sank in March with thousands of tons of fertilizer on board.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies