The 2006 built crude oil tanker SOUNION which was hit last 21stAugust by Iran-backed Houthis off the coast of Hodeida while carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil started being towed threatening environmental disaster.
The 2010 Polish built anchor handling tug/supply ship AIGAION PELAGOS started towing the tanker escorted by military vessels after she left Kali Limenes, Greece last Thursday 5th September, 2024.
The tanker had been anchored west of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, midway between Yemen and Eritrea. The European Union’s Red Sea naval mission (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) stated that the salvage operation of the SOUNION was essential in order to avert a potential environmental disaster in the region.
Meanwhile the towage was successfully done to a safe area without any oil spill. Any oil spill resulting from the fire could have caused one of the largest oil spills from tankers and led to an environmental catastrophe with devastating environmental and economic consequences for the region and its inhabitants. Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.
The towage was escorted by 3 naval units comprising of the Marina Militare Italiana (Italian Navy) Horizon Class ITS ANDREA DORIA D 553
Marina Nationale (French Navy) Horizon Class Destroyer FS CHEVALIER PAUL D 621 =
And the Hellenic Navy (Greek Navy) Hydra Class (Meko 200) Frigate HS PSARA F 454
