Greek oil tanker attacked in Red Sea is ‘environmental hazard,’ EU says

DUBAI/ATHENS — A Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 150,000 tons of crude that was evacuated by its crew after being attacked in the Red Sea now poses an environmental hazard, the EU’s Red Sea naval mission “Aspides” says.

Sounion was targeted on Wednesday by multiple projectiles off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, where the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“Carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, the MV SOUNION now represents a navigational and environmental hazard,” Aspides says in a post on social media platform X.

The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, have yet to claim responsibility for the attack.

The Sounion was the third vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be attacked in the Red Sea this month. The attack caused a fire onboard, which was extinguished by the crew, Delta Tankers said in a statement.

Additionally, a vessel on Thursday reported an explosion close to it which caused minor damage after an encounter with an uncrewed vessel 57 nautical miles south of Yemen’s port of Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says.

On August 21, the MV SOUNION, which had not asked for EUNAFVOR ASPIDES ???????? protection, came under an attack in the South Red Sea area and lost its engine power.

Following a request from the master, the operation dispatched a ship in order to rescue the crew.

While approaching… pic.twitter.com/gdSbTjmzRm

— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) August 22, 2024