Athens:
A risky operation to rescue an oil tanker attacked by Houthi militants in the Red Sea and prevent one of the biggest oil spills in history has been completed, British maritime security firm Ambrey and Greece said.
The 300-metre tall, Greek-registered MT Sounion, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, was hit by several missiles and drones and caught fire on August 21. This raised fears of an oil spill that could cause catastrophic environmental damage in the area.
Months later, the ship was declared safe and its cargo removed, said Ambrey, who led the salvage operation.
Greece had urged all countries to help in the case, with political negotiations stretching from the Houthis, who eventually allowed the salvage teams to tow the ship, to Saudi Arabia, a major player in the region.
“It is a great relief, especially because of the risk of an environmental disaster. It was a very complex operation,” Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides told Reuters on Monday. “I feel relieved and satisfied.”
In mid-September, Sounion, which was struck 93 kilometers off the Yemeni coast, was towed to a safe location 240 kilometers north by a fleet of seven salvage ships, escorted by the European naval force Aspides.
Fighting the fires on board took three weeks in difficult climatic conditions, Ambrey said, and the ship was later towed north to Suez to remove its cargo.
The projects involved more than 200 people and six companies: Megatugs Salvage & Towage, Diaplous, Offmain, Fire Aid, Pro Liquid and Ambipar Response.
When Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Saudi Arabia on Monday, a Greek government official said Sounion's rescue was crucial to strengthening bilateral ties.
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