From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 23, 2024
Three fires spotted aboard abandoned tanker hit by Houthis earlier this week: UK maritime agency
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Three fires have been spotted on an abandoned oil tanker that was struck earlier this week by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the UKMTO maritime agency says.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, run by Britain’s Royal Navy, says it “received a report that three fires have been observed” on the Greek-owned tanker Sounion, which was hit by three projectiles on Wednesday.
The vessel “appears to be drifting,” UKMTO says.
The ship, owned by Greek shipping company Delta Tankers, had lost engine power and was anchored in the Red Sea between Eritrea and Yemen following Wednesday’s strike by the Houthis, which caused a brief fire onboard and damaged the engine compartment.
The source of the new fires remains unclear.
20240823-UKMTO_Daily_Summary-Ohttps://t.co/DQ9L4E6Ddt
1600UTC 22 AUG 24 to 1600UTC 23 AUG 24#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/OmmHKPK800
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) August 23, 2024
The vessel, which departed from Iraq and was destined for a port near Athens, was carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, according to the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides.
The EU naval force, formed in February to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi rebels, had rescued its 25 crew members on Thursday, leaving the ship abandoned.
Delta Tankers says “plans are in place to move the vessel to a safer destination where a full assessment (checks and any repairs) can be undertaken,” without specifying where the ship would be taken.
