Tugs are anticipated to start towing a broken Greek oil tanker on Sunday (Sep 1), Yemen’s Houthi International Minister Jamel Amer mentioned, because the vessel stays adrift and on fireplace within the Crimson Sea.
The Greek-registered Sounion poses an environmental hazard after it was broken in an Aug 21 strike by Houthi forces.
The tanker, which the Houthis and maritime sources have mentioned has been rigged with explosives, is laden with about 1 million barrels of crude oil.
“Tug boats are anticipated to reach tomorrow, Sunday, to start towing the Sounion ship,” Amer mentioned in a press release on Fb.
The Houthis mentioned on Wednesday they might enable salvage crews to tow the ship, which has been on fireplace since Aug 23, to security amid fears of a possible slip of 150,000 tonnes of crude oil into the Crimson Sea.
If a spill happens, it has the potential to be among the many largest from a ship in recorded historical past and will trigger an environmental disaster in an space that’s notably harmful to entry.
