Ship moored at Hodeidah port in Yemen’s Red Sea. The EU Red Sea naval mission said a Greek tanker carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil evacuated after an attack in the Red Sea now poses an environmental risk.
Multiple shells hit the Sonion ship on Wednesday near the Yemeni coastal city of Hodeidah. Where Iran-aligned Houthi rebels are attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Aspides posted on social media platform X: “The MV SOUNION has 150,000 tonnes of crude oil on board. Now poses a threat to shipping and the environment.”
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most densely populated areas, have not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Sounion is the third ship operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be attacked in the Red Sea this month. Delta Tankers said in a statement that the attack caused a fire on board, killing the crew.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Wednesday that the attack caused a loss of engine power. On Thursday, the UKMTO said the ship had dropped anchor, and all crew members had been evacuated. A maritime security source told Reuters that the ship is now anchored between Yemen and Eritrea.
Delta Tankers said it planned to move the Sonion to a safer destination for further inspection and repairs. Protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to funding for Israel escalated outside the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday.
Cespedes said the EU naval mission in the Red Sea had sent a ship to Djibouti to rescue the crew at the request of the Sounion’s captain.
The Houthi attack triggered retaliatory strikes from the United States and Britain.
“When the EU naval ship Aspedes approached the area, it destroyed an unmanned surface vessel, which posed an imminent threat to the ship and its crew,” Aspedes added.
The Greek Transport Ministry said the ship was sailing from Iraq to Agios Theodoroi, Greece. With two Russians and 23 Filipinos on board.
The Houthis have launched dozens of attacks in the Red Sea since November, sinking two ships, seizing another, and killing at least three sailors. Also, forcing ship owners to avoid the popular Suez Canal trade route, disrupting global trade.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said on Thursday that “during this week’s operation against ships violating the blockade of ships heading to Israel. A ship was found adrift after being disabled by an attack,” without specifying the name of the ship.
In another incident on Thursday, a ship reported minor damage after an explosion occurred nearby following a collision. With an unmanned vessel 57 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port of Aden, according to the UK Maritime Trade Organization. Furthermore, the vessel and crew are safe and heading to the next port of call.
Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides condemned the attack on Sounion on Wednesday. Calling it a “flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to the safety of international shipping.”
However, British Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif called the Houthi attack “illegal and reckless.”
