EU operation to tow oil tanker struck by Houthis proceeding ‘at very slow pace’
European Union’s Red Sea naval mission says ship being towed to a ‘safe location,’ escorted by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces team
ATHENS, Greece — The towing of an abandoned tanker struck by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in August, threatening environmental disaster, is proceeding slowly for a second day, a Greek military source told AFP on Sunday.
The operation to tow the Greek-flagged Sounion which began Saturday “is proceeding at a very slow pace,” the source said, adding that it was “initially headed north” without revealing a destination.
The tanker was hit on August 21 by the Iran-backed Houthis with missiles off the coast of Hodeida while carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil.
After the initial strike, the Yemeni terrorist group returned and detonated charges on the ship’s deck, setting off new fires.
Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.
The operation is being overseen by the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, which said on Sunday that the tanker was being towed to a “safe location.”
“The salvage of the MV SOUNION is a complex operation and consists of various phases,” the mission wrote on X.
It added aerial shots of the tanker escorted by two warships, one dated Sunday, in which it is still emitting smoke.
Greek state news agency ANA said the tugboat was escorted by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces team, without disclosing the states of origin.
Fires were still visible on board in Aspides pictures posted on X dated Saturday.
“When it reaches safe mooring there will be an attempt to put out the fire and preliminary steps will be taken to secure the cargo from leaking,” the Greek source said Sunday.
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
The ship’s radars have been turned off for security reasons.
The tanker had been anchored west of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, midway between Yemen and Eritrea.
The Sounion’s crew — made up of 23 Filipinos and two Russians — was rescued the day after the attack by a French frigate serving with the EU mission.
The EU naval force was formed in February to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi rebels, who have waged a campaign against international shipping that they say is intended to show solidarity with the Hamas terror group in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The war broke out when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251. Since November, the Houthi attacks have caused the sinking of two ships and the deaths of at least four crew members.
The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at ships in the vital commercial route, saying they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US and Britain.
They have also attacked Israel directly. A Houthi drone in July killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, and a ballistic missile fired by the terrorist group on Sunday morning landed in an open field, triggering sirens throughout central Israel.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
