- Salvors Begin Crude Oil Transfer from Greek Tanker Sounion Off Egypt’s Coast.
- Offloading Operation Underway for Sounion After Houthi Attacks.
- Tug and Tanker Team Up to Remove 150,000 Tonnes of Oil from Damaged Sounion.
Salvage teams started transferring the remaining crude oil from the cargo tanks of the damaged Greek tanker , following attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The tanker is now anchored south of the Suez Canal in Egypt, offloading, reports Baird Maritime.
Offloading Team and Equipment
The vessel undertaking the operation is the tug vessel Aigaion Pelagos and the tanker Delta Blue, which will receive crude oil shipments from damaged Greek tanker. It should be added that the Houthis attacked Delta Blue as well; the vessel underwent four different attacks within a 24-hour timeframe in early August.
Process of Oil Transfer and Timeline
Officials estimate about 150,000 tonnes of crude oil in the cargo tanks of Greek tanker. This is the volume that will take three or four weeks to offload because of the vast quantities involved.
Other Attacks and Instant Action
Greek tanker was attacked repeatedly as it transited the Red Sea in late August. This time, the attack came in the form of a UAV explosives-laden boat attack. The incoming warship from France intercepted and neutralised it. A number of fires broke out on board the ship during attacks. The ship remained afloat and towable to safety.
Environmental Concerns and Risk Mitigation
The salvage experts issued the initial advice that towing the tanker be done away with, but it just makes things tougher. The US State Department complained regarding the environmental risk posed ifHouthi attacks continued, pointing out that one million barrels of oil could be spilled, a four-time volume of the Exxon Valdez disaster.
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Source: Baird Maritime
