EUNAVFOR: Tanker Loaded With Crude in Red Sea Towed to Safety

The Greek-owned tanker Sounion was towed to a safe maritime region under the protection of the EU’s EUNAVFOR Aspides military operation, and with with no spill reported from the crude oil-laden vessel. According to an update from the mission’s headquarters in the central Greece city of Larissa, private contractors responsible for the towing are now set to complete the risky salvage operation.

The 25 crew-members of the Sounion tanker had previously abandoned the vessel after it came under missile and drone attacks launched, from all accounts, by Iran-backed Houthi rebels operating in parts of Yemen late last month.

The towing is the result of close cooperation between all stakeholders to prevent an ecological disaster in the southern Red Sea, according to the EU’s military mission.

The EUNAVFOR Aspides mission, which includes warships and other military assets, is active in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

A previous salvage operation failed last week over security concerns and difficulties in tethering the massive vessel.

The tanker was hit by Iran-backed Houthi rebels operating from a portion of Yemen. The vessel is anchored at roughly 72 nautical miles west of the Yemen port of Al Hudaydah.

The vessel is the third ship owned by the Athens-based Delta Tankers that was attacked this month by the terrorist rebels in the Red Sea.

The Supreme leader of the Houthis stated that the group allowed the withdrawal of the vessel over concerns about a potential ecological disaster.