- Oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen is at risk of exploding.
- The tanker is loaded with more than 1 million barrels of crude oil.
- It has the potential of causing massive environmental damage to the Red Sea.
- It can affect marine life, desalination factories, and international shipping routes.
- Houthi rebels who control the area where the ship is moored have denied U.N. inspectors access to the vessel.
- The tanker is rusted and the inert gas that prevents the tanks from gathering inflammable gases has leaked out.
- Experts say maintenance is no longer possible because the damage to the ship is irreversible.
According to an article published in APNews, the UN said an abandoned oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen loaded with more than 1 million barrels of crude oil is at risk of rupture or exploding.
An environmental disaster waiting to happen
It has the potential of causing massive environmental damage to Red Sea marine life, desalination factories, and international shipping routes.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels who control the area where the ship is moored have denied U.N. inspectors access to the vessel. Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press show that seawater has entered the engine compartment of the tanker, which hasn’t been maintained for over five years, causing damage to the pipelines and increasing the risk of sinking.
Rust has covered parts of the tanker and the inert gas that prevents the tanks from gathering inflammable gases, has leaked out. Experts say maintenance is no longer possible because the damage to the ship is irreversible.
Assessors denied access
For years, the U.N. has been trying to send inspectors to assess the damage aboard the vessel known as the FSO Safer and look for ways to secure the tanker by unloading the oil and pulling the ship to safety.
But one European diplomat, a Yemeni government official, and the tanker’s company owner said that Houthi rebels have resisted. The diplomat said the rebels are treating the vessel as a “deterrent like having a nuclear weapon.” All three individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the subject with a reporter.
“They do say that openly to the U.N., ‘We like to have this as something to hold against the international community if attacked,’” the diplomat said. “Houthis are definitely responsible for the failure of the U.N. to look at the ship.”
Rebels demand ransom to release the ship
Money is also an issue, the diplomat said, adding that the Houthis initially were demanding millions of dollars in return for the oil stored in the tanker. The U.N. is trying to reach an arrangement where money could be used to pay workers and employees at Yemen’s Red Sea ports, the diplomat added.
Some experts, however, criticize both the Houthis and the U.N. for failing to fully understand the magnitude of the crisis with the abandoned ship.
Ian Ralby, the founder of I.R. Consilium, who specializes in maritime and resource security, told the AP that U.N.’s efforts to send a team to assess the ship is “futile.” What the vessel needs are a salvage team, he said.
“It’s real shame that they wasted so much money and time in this futile operation,” said Ralby. “If you are taking these years to get a simple team to assess, we will not have a second chance to salvage,” he added.
“They do say that openly to the U.N., ‘We like to have this as something to hold against the international community if attacked,’” the diplomat said. “Houthis are definitely responsible for the failure of the U.N. to look at the ship.”
Who are Houthi rebels?
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are in control of the western Red Sea ports, including Ras Issa, six kilometres from where the FSO Safer tanker has been moored since the 1980s.
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Source: APNews
