Tanker struck by Houthis successfully salvaged, preventing a disaster in the Red Sea

A challenging operation to recover an oil tanker that was attacked by Houthis militants in the Red Sea and prevent what could have been one of the largest oil spills in history has been successfully completed, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey and the Greek government.

The 900-foot Greek-registered MT Sounion, which was transporting 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, was hit by multiple missiles and drones, resulting in a fire on August 21. This incident raised alarms about a potential oil spill that could lead to severe environmental consequences in the region.

Months later, Ambrey announced that the vessel has been deemed safe and its cargo has been successfully extracted. Greece had called on all nations to support the operation, with political discussions involving the Houthis, who ultimately permitted salvage teams to tow the ship, and Saudi Arabia, a significant regional player.

“It’s a significant relief, primarily due to the risk of an environmental disaster. This was a highly intricate operation,” stated Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides in an interview with Reuters on Monday. “I am both relieved and satisfied.”

In mid-September, the Sounion, which was struck 58 miles off the coast of Yemen, was towed to a secure location 150 miles north by a convoy of seven salvage vessels, supported by the European Union’s naval force Aspides. Ambrey reported that extinguishing the onboard fires took three weeks under challenging weather conditions, after which the vessel was towed north to Suez for cargo removal.

Over 200 individuals and six companies—Megatugs Salvage & Towage, Diaplous, Offmain, Fire Aid, Pro Liquid, and Ambipar Response—contributed to the operation.

As Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Saudi Arabia on Monday, a Greek government official noted that the successful salvage of the Sounion was crucial in enhancing bilateral relations.