Efforts to save the burning Greek tanker Sounion in the Red Sea are slowly beginning, but much of the work is being kept secret for safety reasons. According to reports, a second attempt to tow the ship to a safer location started on Friday, September 13.
The Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed to Agence France-Presse that two tugboats had left Greece to help. One of these tugs, the Agaion Pelagos, is traveling to the Sounion. The tugs are being escorted by French and Greek navy ships and will join two other commercial salvage boats hired by the ship’s insurance company, Delta Tankers. These four vessels are expected to work together to secure the tanker.
Earlier in September, the EUNAVFOR Aspides said a previous attempt to salvage the tanker had failed. The operation was stopped due to technical issues and possibly safety concerns.
Warnings have been issued to ships in the Red Sea, advising them to stay away from the Sounion. According to Bloomberg, the Pakistan Navy’s Hydrographic Service has advised vessels to remain at least five nautical miles away from the burning tanker. The latest advisory suggests that the salvage operation began Friday afternoon, local time.
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On September 12, EUNAVFOR Aspides released new photos showing the tanker still on fire. The tanker remains anchored and is not drifting. Fortunately, there are no signs of oil leaking from the ship’s main cargo tanks, which are holding around 150,000 tons of crude oil.
The ship’s fire has caused concerns that it could spread or even trigger an explosion. If the fire worsens, it might cause significant damage to the tanker, posing a bigger risk to the environment and salvage teams.
As the situation continues to unfold, officials are working to ensure the safety of everyone involved while trying to contain the fire and prevent further damage. More updates are expected as salvage teams work on this dangerous operation.
