The latest news and commentary on how the conflict in the Middle East is affecting the global maritime industry and shipping markets.
Houthis allow Sounion recovery plan
Iran's mission to the United Nations said Houthi authorities have given the go-ahead to recovery teams to attend the 164,000dwt crude carrier MV Sounion, which is currently adrift off Hodeidah in the southern Red Sea.
The vessel was first hit by Houthi missiles on 21 August, causing the loss of power and resulting in the crew abandoning the ship. Subsequent missile hits two days later caused fires to break out on board.
UKMTO said a passing vessel reported the ship as drifting, but a subsequent Twitter post by EUNAVFOR ASPIDES said its assets in the region had confirmed there was no oil spill from the ship, and that it was still anchored and not drifting.
The vessel is loaded with 150,000 tonnes of crude oil and is considered an environmental and navigational hazard. A loss of cargo containment could potentially result in one of the largest oil spills form a ship in history.
"Several countries have reached out to Ansarullah (the Houthis), requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area," Iran's UN mission in New York said.
"In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request," it said.
However, Mohammed Abdulsalam, a Houthi spokesperson, told Reuters on yesterday there is no temporary truce, the group has only agreed to allow the towing of the oil tanker after international parties contacted the group.
The Houthis attacked Sounion with drone and missile strikes.
Reuters reported that Pentagon officials had said on Tuesday that a third party had tried to send two tugs to help salvage Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
Iran's UN mission denied this, however: "The failure to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea stems from the negligence of certain countries, rather than concerns over the possibility of being targeted."
EUNAVFOR ASPIDES said it was "preparing to facilitate any courses of action, in coordination with European authorities and neighboring countries, to avert a catastrophic environmental crisis, thereby contributing to the protection of global goods."
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