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Red Sea Crisis

The latest news and commentary on how the conflict in the Middle East is affecting the global maritime industry and shipping markets.

Fire takes hold on stricken tanker in Red Sea

At least five separate fires have been seen on the stricken suezmax tanker Sounion, following last week’s attack by Houthi fighters.

Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent

August 26, 2024

1 Min Read
Tanker Sounian on fire
Credit: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES X-feed

The 164,000 dwt vessel was first attacked on 21 August by Houthi unmanned surface vessel, and its master requested assistance from the EU military force in the region, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, after the ship lost power. All crew were rescued as at the time.

A further attack by Houthi military was recorded on 23 August causing the vessel to catch fire, but EUNAVFOR reported that there were no signs of an oil spill from the stricken vessel.

However, EUNAVFOR added: “There are fires on at least five locations observed on the main deck of the vessel. It is estimated that these are located around the hatches of the vessel’s oil tanks. Additionally, part of the superstructure is on fire, too.”

Sounion is anchored in international waters and remains a navigational hazard as well as posing an environmental risk should its 150,000 tonnes of oil spill into the sea.

“This situation underlines that these kinds of attacks pose not only a threat against the freedom of navigation but also to the lives of seafarers, the environment, and subsequently the life of all citizens living in that region,” said EUNAVFOR.

Sounion is owned by the Athens based operator Delta Tankers, which operates a fleet of 29 oil carriers.

About the Author

Nick Savvides

Europe correspondent

Experienced journalist working online, in monthly magazines and daily news coverage. Nick Savvides began his journalistic career working as a freelance from his flat in central London, and has since worked in Athens, while also writing for some major publications including The Observer, The European, Daily Express and Thomson Reuters. 

Most recently Nick joined The Loadstar as the publication’s news editor to develop the profile of the publication, increase its readership and to build a team that will market, sell and report on supply chain issues and container shipping news. 

This was a similar brief to his time at ci-online, the online publication for Containerisation International and Container News. During his time at ci-online Nich developed a team of freelancers and full-time employees increasing its readership substantially. He then moved to International Freighting Weekly, a sister publication, IFW also focused on container shipping, rail and trucking and ports. Both publications were published by Informa. 

Following his spell at Informa Nick joined Reed’s chemical reporting team, ICIS, as the chemical tanker reporter. While at ICIS he also reported on the chemical industry and spent some time on the oil & gas desk. 

Nick has also worked for a time at Lloyd’s Register, which has an energy division, and his role was writing their technical magazine, before again becoming a journalist at The Naval Architect for the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. After eight successful years at RINA, he joined Fairplay, which published a fortnightly magazine and daily news on the website.

Nick's time at Fairplay saw him win the Seahorse Club Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year 2018 awards.

After Fairplay closed, Nick joined an online US start-up called FreightWaves. 

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