Fires detected on Red Sea tanker adrift with oil on board

Britain’s navy said three fires were seen on a ship attacked in the Red Sea earlier this week.

Sounion’s crew were evacuated from the ship in recent days after the ship was hit by multiple projectiles.

On Friday, the UK’s Merchant Marine Operations, which is part of the country’s Navy, said it had received a report that three fires had been spotted on the vessel, which was attacked on Wednesday, and that the tanker appeared to be adrift.

The ship was carrying 150,000 tonnes – about a million barrels – of Iraqi oil when it was attacked, and the European Union’s naval force in the region said it posed a risk to both navigation and the environment.

“Delta Tankers is doing everything possible to move the vessel (and cargo),” the ship’s owner and operator said in a statement ahead of Friday’s UKMTO release in response to questions about whether another incident had occurred. “For security reasons, we are unable to comment further.”

The company added that it is grateful for the assistance received from the French navy.

Photo: Merchant ships in the Red Sea. Photo credit: Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

TOPICS
Energy Oil Gas