By Ahmed Elimam, Nur-Azna Sanusi and Adam Makary
(Reuters) -The Greek-flagged tanker Sounion has been on fireplace within the Pink Sea since Aug. 23 after an assault by Yemen’s Houthis with no apparent indicators of an oil spill, EU Pink Sea naval mission Aspides mentioned in a publish on X on Monday.
The EU mission printed pictures dated Sunday exhibiting fireplace and smoke popping out of the vessel’s important deck. Reuters has verified the authenticity of a Houthi video of a fiery assault on the ship.
The Sounion is carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil and poses an environmental hazard, delivery officers mentioned. Aspides mentioned a part of Sounion’s superstructure was on fireplace and that flames have been noticed in no less than 5 areas on the vessel’s important deck. If a spill happens, it has the potential to be among the many largest from a ship in recorded historical past.
The Houthis, who management Yemen’s most populous areas, have been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians within the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Iran-aligned rebels have sunk two ships and killed no less than three crew of their 10-month marketing campaign that has upended world ocean delivery by forcing vessel house owners to keep away from the Suez Canal shortcut.
The Sounion is the third vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to return below Houthi assault this month. The militants mentioned Delta Tankers had violated their ban on “entry to the ports of occupied Palestine”.
Satellite tv for pc imagery captured by European House Company’s Copernicus Satellite tv for pc 2 confirmed smoke seen at sea within the neighborhood the place Sounion was final detected.
Reuters was in a position to find the picture from matching the final location for Sounion seen from LSEG ship tracker.
British and U.S. forces have been destroying Houthi drones and missile launch websites, however analysts say the assaults are unlikely to cease till there’s a ceasefire in Gaza.
