A Greek tanker struck by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea a week ago is now leaking oil, according to the U.S. Pentagon and multiple media sources.
Salvaging the ship has been difficult as the Houthis continue to threaten further attacks, BBC reports, citing the Pentagon. “The MV Sounion is currently immobilized in the Red Sea. It is on fire and leaking oil, creating both a navigational hazard and a potential environmental disaster,” Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said, according to the Maritime Executive.
Earlier reports indicated that a tanker on fire was drifting in the Red Sea. It was later revealed that the vessel had been attacked by armed groups in small boats about 90 miles from the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. The tanker was also reportedly hit by missiles or drones.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations office reported that the vessel was “not under command,” suggesting it had lost all power. No casualties have been reported.
The Greek-flagged oil tanker, MV Sounion, was carrying 25 crew members and traveling from Iraq to Cyprus when the attack occurred, as reported by the Associated Press. The crew was rescued by a European warship and taken to Djibouti.
The BBC reports that the Sounion was carrying approximately 150,000 tons (nearly a million barrels) of crude oil. If a spill occurs, it could become one of the largest oil spills in recent history. For comparison, the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 involved 257,000 barrels of crude.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis have targeted around 80 vessels. This campaign is causing shippers to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, opting for the longer route around the Horn of Africa. This detour is expected to increase fuel consumption by an additional 500,000 barrels per day in 2024.