Oil tanker poses ‘environmental risk’ after Red Sea attack
A crude oil tanker carrying tonnes of crude oil and vacated by its crew after an attack in the Red Sea is now believed to pose an environmental hazard.
The Sounion was evacuated after it came under attack in the Red SeaImage: David Mackinnon/AP/picture alliance
The attack on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which was carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil at the time, has resulted in an environmental risk, the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission “Aspides” said on Thursday.
The ship was targeted on Wednesday by multiple projectiles off the coast of Yemen, from where the Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The vessel has already been evacuated.
