Salvage Efforts for Red Sea Oil Tanker Halted Due to Safety Concerns, EU Reports

The European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea has reported that private salvage efforts for the oil tanker MV Sounion have been suspended due to unsafe conditions. The vessel, which is Greek-owned and flagged, was abandoned by its crew after being struck by projectiles from Yemen’s Houthi movement on August 21. The incident led to multiple explosions and fires aboard the ship.

On August 21, the tanker, which was carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil, was hit by gunfire and projectiles, resulting in significant fires. Following this, the Houthis agreed last Wednesday to allow the vessel to be towed to prevent an unprecedented environmental disaster. The EU mission, tasked with providing security for the salvage operation, has reported that “alternative solutions” are being sought as the situation evolves.

As of Monday, fires were still burning on the tanker’s main deck. However, the EU mission indicated that the vessel remains anchored and there are no visible signs of an oil spill. The U.S. has warned that a potential spill from the Sounion could be nearly four times larger than the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989, which contaminated 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) of coastline in Alaska.

The Iran-backed Houthis have a history of targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November. They claim their actions are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip conflict, although they have often inaccurately stated that their targets are ships linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K.

Despite the deployment of Western warships and airstrikes by the U.S. and U.K. on Houthi-controlled areas, as well as Israeli bombings of Hudaydah’s port in response to a drone strike on Tel Aviv, the Houthis have remained undeterred. The Sounion was initially attacked with gunfire from small boats, followed by three projectiles, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The 25 crew members were subsequently rescued by a European warship.

The tanker was attacked again, with recent footage showing Houthi fighters boarding the vessel and detonating at least six bombs simultaneously. The Houthi leader described the attack as “brave and bold” in a recent speech.

In recent days, the Houthis have continued their assaults on oil tankers in the Red Sea. On Monday, U.S. Central Command reported that the Panama-flagged MV Blue Lagoon I and the Saudi-flagged MV Amjad were hit by two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack drone. The Amjad is carrying approximately two million barrels of oil, nearly double the amount on the Sounion.

Central Command condemned these attacks as “reckless acts of terrorism” that destabilize regional and global commerce and endanger the lives of civilian mariners and maritime ecosystems.