Oil Tanker Sounion Transits Suez Canal After Being Attacked By Houthis Last year
Image Credits: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES/X
The Greek-registered oil tanker Sounion has successfully transited Egypt’s Suez Canal, following a complex and high-risk salvage operation after being severely damaged by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea last year.
The vessel, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, suffered multiple missile strikes and explosions.
On August 21, 2024, the Houthi militants launched anti-ship missiles at the 274 meter long (899 foot) tanker while it was sailing northbound in the Red Sea.
The attack disabled critical control systems, leaving the vessel stranded. A French frigate in the region responded swiftly, evacuating all 29 crew members before further escalation.
Just two days later, the situation worsened. Houthi rebels boarded the abandoned vessel, planting and detonating explosives on the bridge and main decks, causing over a dozen fires and major structural damage.
The explosions also led to flooding in the engine room. The US State Department warned that if the tanker broke apart or exploded, it could cause an oil spill larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which remains one of the worst environmental catastrophes in history.
An urgent international salvage operation was launched given the risk of an oil spill. The Sounion remained within Houthi strike range, making the effort exceptionally dangerous.
The priority was clearing unexploded ordnance, requiring the deployment of explosive ordnance disposal teams before any salvage work could begin.
Specialists from around the world, including firefighting and towing experts, were mobilised under expedited diplomatic clearances.
Salvage tug from Greece and other support vessels arrived at the scene, working under the protection of European Union naval forces.
By mid-September 2024, a salvage flotilla, including three EUNAVFOR naval ships and air support, managed to tow the Sounion 150 miles north to a safer location, where extensive firefighting operations continued for three more weeks.
Once
