The European Union’s naval mission to salvage a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea is warning that it’s become too unsafe to tow the vessel out of the area.
Houthi rebels attacked the Greek-flagged MV Sounion on August 21, firing projectiles at it and setting off explosives on-board. The tanker is carrying nearly a million barrels of crude oil, and was reportedly still on fire as of September 2, as salvage crews have debated over the best way to safely tow the tanker out of the area before oil starts to leak into the surrounding waters. Then, in a post to X on September 3, the EU’s military operation in the Red Sea — dubbed EUNAVFOR Aspides — said that private companies helping with the salvage operation have concluded that it is not safe to proceed with towing the ship, and that they are now exploring “alternative solutions.”
Oil has yet to leak out of the vessel, but U.S. military leaders estimate that the Sounion could potentially spill four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. And although Houthis have reportedly agreed to allow crews to tow the tanker away, responders remain concerned about the possibility of further attacks on ships helping with salvage efforts. In the meantime, Aspides says that it will still provide security for tugs involved in the operation once it’s safe to proceed.
