Plan to tow still burning Greek-flagged vessel
With several fires still burning on the Greek-flagged Sounion oil tanker since the attack by Iranian pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on August 21, Greece is taking a leading role in the effort to tow it to prevent an environmental disaster.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and European leaders, has organized the plan to tow the ship.
The operation will be carried by private companies in cooperation with forces in the area partaking in the the European Aspides operation – namely the Greek navy frigate Psara, the German frigate Hessen, the French frigate Chevalier Paul, the Italian destroyer Andrea Doria and the Dutch general support vessel Karel Doorman, while the oil will be transferred to another tanker.
The Sounion remains moored and was not drifting while there were reportedly no visible signs of an oil leak. Due to the large amount of crude oil (150,000 tons) it carries, the tanker poses a significant environmental threat.
Upon request, Operation Aspides will provide protection to tugboats contributing to the rescue operation and facilitate their efforts to prevent an environmental disaster.
