The towing of the Greek-owned tanker “Sounion” by the salvage vessel “Aigaion Pelagos” has begun. The tanker had been anchored since August 27, with fire hotspots on board, 72 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen, in Red Sea.
The Greek salvage vessel arrived at the location of the “Sounion,” accompanied by significant military forces, including three frigates, helicopters and a special forces unit, on Saturday. Despite challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 400 ° C due to the fire, the specialized salvage team successfully secured the tanker to the “Aigaion Pelagos.”
The salvage vessel is towing the tanker north escorted by military forces to exit the dangerous area where Houthi attacks have occurred, allowing the salvage operations to continue safely. The firefighting tugboat “Panormitis” is also accompanying the tanker, ready to intervene if needed.
“Sounion,” which is carrying 150,000 tons of oil, must be rescued to prevent a potential environmental disaster in the region, according to the European operation ASPIDES.