Burning MV Sounion too risky to tow, says EU mission

In Singapore, Manifold Times reports the Greek-flagged oil tanker MV Sounion, which has been ablaze since August 23, 2024, following a reported Houthi attack, has been deemed unsafe to tow, according to a statement from the EU military mission EUNAVFOR ASPIDES. Private salvage companies overseeing the operation concluded that the conditions for towing were too dangerous, due to the large volume of crude oil still aboard the vessel.

The Sounion has posed a significant environmental threat, with several fires still burning on the deck, although no oil spill has yet been reported. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES has been providing protection for tugs involved in the salvage operation since September 1, 2024, to prevent a potential environmental disaster in the Red Sea. Greece has called on all nations and organizations to help prevent the potential spill, which could result in a disaster four times the scale of the Exxon Valdez incident.

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