Fires broke out Friday on a Greek-flagged oil tanker previously attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels this week, with the vessel now appearing to be adrift in the Red Sea, authorities said.
It wasn’t immediately clear what had happened to the oil tanker Sounion, which had been abandoned by its crew on Thursday and reportedly anchored in place.
$1 trillion in goods
The Houthis didn’t immediately acknowledge the fire. The rebels are suspected to have gone back and attacked at least one other vessel that later sank as part of their monthslong campaign against shipping in the Red Sea over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that’s disrupted a trade route that typically sees $1 trillion in goods pass through it annually.
Three fires
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the fires in a note to mariners on Friday night.
“UKMTO have received a report that three fires have been observed on vessel,” the center said. “The vessel appears to be drifting.”
American were aware of the fires
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said American officials were aware of the fires and continued to monitor the situation.
Environmental hazard
It is noteworthy that the Sounion has 150,000 tons of crude oil aboard and represents a “navigational and environmental hazard,” the mission warned.She was first hit by gunfire from two small boats which approached it 77 nautical miles (143km) west of the Yemeni port of Hudaydah, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office said.
“It is essential that everyone in the area exercises caution and refrains from any actions that could lead to a deterioration of the current situation.”
Nearby Djibouti
The vessel had been staffed by a crew of 25 Filipinos and Russians, as well as four private security personnel, who were taken by a French destroyer to nearby Djibouti, the EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea said on Thursday.
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
European warship
The 25 crew members of a Greek-owned and flagged oil tanker have been rescued by a European warship in the Red Sea after multiple attacks on Wednesday.
On Thursday, EU’s Red Sea naval mission said one of its ships had destroyed an unmanned surface vessel (USV) as it rescued all of those on board and transported them to Djibouti.
Delta Tankers
The Sounion’s operator, Delta Tankers, said the fire onboard was extinguished before it was abandoned by the crew and that it was working on a plan to move the vessel to a safer destination for further checks and repairs.
The vessel was initially adrift after losing engine power but is now at anchor.
