On 2nd September, the European Union’s mission in the Red Sea, Aspides, announced that the salvage operation for the oil tanker MV Sounion, which was recently targeted by Houthi militants aligned with Iran, is set to commence.
According to Aspides, several fires continue to burn on the vessel’s main deck. The vessel remains anchored without drifting, and there are no visible signs of an oil spill.
The salvage operation is expected to be intricate, and if a spill happens, it could become one of the largest ship-related spills ever recorded, potentially leading to an environmental disaster in a region that is especially challenging to reach, Reuters highlights.
The MV SOUNION, due to the large amount of crude oil it carries, presents a significant environmental threat. Private companies are involved in the salvage operation that is about to start.
…Aspides said on X.
The EU’s naval force announced on Monday that it will provide protection for the tug boats involved in the salvage operation.
Iran-aligned Houthis have been targeting commercial shipping as part of their support for Palestinians amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
On Monday, two sources reported that a Saudi-owned crude tanker and a Panama-flagged oil ship were attacked in the Red Sea near Yemen, though it remains unclear if Yemeni Houthi militants were responsible for the attacks.
The MV SOUNION, due to the large amount of crude oil it carries, presents a significant environmental threat. Private companies are involved in the salvage operation that is about to start. Upon their request, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES will provide protection to the tug boats, that will… pic.twitter.com/V1XtJPlEeD
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) September 2, 2024
