After Houthi attack on tanker, oil spill threatens in Red Sea

Greece reported to the United Nations signs of an oil slick more than two nautical miles long (a good four kilometers) in the area around the wrecked ship. The tanker was carrying around a million barrels of crude oil. “Greece urgently calls on all nations and actors involved to help (…) resolve the problem as soon as possible,” it said on Friday.

Complicated rescue

According to initial plans, the salvage of the “Sounion” will begin in the next 48 hours, people familiar with the process said on Friday. It is likely to be complicated because Houthi rebels have attached explosive devices to the ship. Whether the tanker will be towed to a port or the cargo pumped into another ship can only be decided after an inspection of the “Sounion”. At the beginning of the week there were conflicting reports about whether the cargo of the “Sounion” had already leaked. Representatives of the EU mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea, Aspides, denied this. The USA said that fluid was leaking from the ship at the point where it had been hit. It was not the cargo.

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