Delta Sounion
Washington/New York: The Houthis’ attacks against the oil tanker MT Delta Sounion threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster. While the crew was evacuated, the Houthis appeared determined to sink the ship and its cargo into the sea.
The Crude Oil Tanker built in 2006 (18 years old) was en route to the port of Durban, South Africa, sailing under the flag of Greece at a speed of 9.9 knots before it was attacked by the Houthis. The vessel was otherwise expected to arrive there on August 25, 2024.
Expressing concerns over the Houthis’ continued attacks on the ship, the United States of America stated that through these attacks, the Houthis had made clear they were willing to destroy the fishing industry and regional ecosystems that Yemenis and other communities in the region rely on for their livelihoods, just as they “undermined” the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the region through their “reckless” attacks.
The United Nations has not so far been able to go in situ to evaluate the hazard. However, as Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said, “One doesn’t need to be an environmental expert to understand that an oil tanker with 150,000 tons of crude oil, which has lost its engine power, which is anchored in the Red Sea with most of its, if not all of its crew been evacuated, is a huge environmental risk to the surrounding area”.
Dujarric added, “And we’re very worried about it. We’re worried about the fact that we’re now hearing that there possibly was some sort of a fire aboard that ship”.
“Strongly” condemning the attacks on Delta Sounion, “which endangers the ecology, endangers people, endangers seafarers”, Dujarric pointed out that the UN had spoken again and again in the last years of the risks of oil spills in this area due to the ongoing fighting. “There’s a Security Council resolution 2722. It must be fully respected. And we particularly call on the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea,” he stressed.
When asked whether the UN or anyone else, was trying to make arrangements to assess the damage and see if the oil could be offloaded, Dujarric said, “Yeah, I will check with our local colleagues”.
Matthew Miller, the US State Department Spokesperson, called on the Houthis to cease such actions immediately. He also urged other nations to step forward to help avert an environmental disaster.
