The transfer of 150,000 tons of oil from the tanker Sounion to the tanker Delta Blue began on 6 November, using portable equipment at a secure anchorage in Suez.
According to sources from the Greek Ministry of Shipping, the operation is being conducted by the rescue team of the vessel “Aigaion Pelagos” and is expected to last approximately three to four weeks. The same sources mentioned that the objective is to ensure the ship’s condition and stability, as it lacks its own mechanical equipment, and the tanker’s metal plates have suffered “fatigue” due to fires caused by explosions from Houthi explosives on the deck.
It is noted that the firefighting operation for the 20 fire hotspots caused by Houthi explosives off the coast of Yemen was successfully completed some time ago on the Greek-owned tanker.
The firefighting was conducted by the rescue team of the vessel “Aigaion Pelagos.”
The Greek-owned tanker was first attacked by drones on Wednesday, August 21, and its 25-member crew (23 Filipinos and two Russians) was evacuated the next day by a French destroyer to a safe location in Djibouti.
Subsequently, members of the Houthi group boarded the ship and placed explosives.
