Oil tanker

Diplomatic efforts are under way to find a solution to prevent a massive oil spillage from the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion.

The tanker, attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have targeted merchant shipping in the area, is still burning and with each passing day the danger of spilling its content of 1 million barrels of oil into the sea is increasing.

The European Operation “Shields,” which provided assistance in the effort to tow the Greek-owned oil tanker and prevent an ecological disaster from the crude oil spill, has reported that towing the Greek-owned tanker MV Sounion, located 72 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen, in the Red Sea, is not currently possible by the private companies involved in the rescue operation after the vessel

Video showing the strike on the Greek-owned ship M/T Sounion on Friday morning (23/08/2024) in the Southern Red Sea was released by Houthi rebels on Friday after it was evacuated on Wednesday (21/08/2024) by the French navy.

A powerful explosion can be seen in the video, followed by thick clouds of smoke coming from the ship.

Watch the video

Greek-owned crude oil tanker Delta Blue has reported four attacks off Yemen's port of Mokha during the last 24 hours, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Friday, and the vessel's manager said the ship and its crew were safe.

The global shadow fleet, numbering up to 850 oil tankers, not only circumvents sanctions on countries such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela but also poses environmental risks, with Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides stating on Tuesday that Greece is taking measures to protect its coast. This matter was also in the focus of delegates at conferences on the second day of the Posidonia fair.

Unregulated tankers sidestepping Western sanctions are posing a bigger risk to the Mediterranean region and Greece is undertaking more protective measures to safeguard its coast, the country's shipping minister told Reuters on Tuesday.

Challenging international sanctions, Russia has commenced direct oil supplies to North Korea, bolstering ties between the two authoritarian regimes and undermining efforts to contain Pyongyang's activities.

Greece's Okeanis Eco Tankers Corporation is evolving into an international investment platform after its listing on the New York Stock Exchange in December, thanks to an impressive performance even compared to all fellow listed tanker companies.

A correspondent on-site in Iran visited the Greek-owned oil tanker St Nikolas, confirming the crew's safety, after the vessel was seized on Thursday by the Iranian navy, as was announced by its managing company, Greek-based Empire Navigations on Monday.  

All crew members of the Greek-owned oil tanker St Nikolas, which was seized on Thursday by the Iranian navy, anchored in Bandar Abbas, Iran, are reported to be in good health and safe, as was announced by the vessel's management company Empire Navigation. 

Greek shipping company Empire Navigation confirmed their well-being after contacting Iranian authorities.