The risky rescue of the Sounion tanker will resume in the Red Sea this week, Reuters sources say

ATHENS (Reuters) – Experts will this week resume a risky operation to salvage the tanker Sounion which was attacked by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea last month and still holds about a million barrels, shipping sources said on Thursday.

The towing of the Greek-registered vessel – which was hit, lost power and caught fire on August 21 – was halted after it was deemed unsafe by the companies originally involved in the project.

Officials said the towing operation will be particularly delicate given the full cargo and a host of other factors.

Any spill could be the largest from a ship in recorded history and could cause an environmental catastrophe in an area that is particularly dangerous to enter.

The Houthis – who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians caught in the Israel-Gaza war – also detonated charges on the tank after the attack, causing more fires and it is unclear if the explosives are still active.

At least two tugboats owned by a salvage company based in Greece are already in the area and will handle the tow, one of the sources said.

“There is an action plan and there is progress,” another source added. “The towing operation is expected to begin within the next two days.”

The ship’s crew was evacuated. Greece has also reached out to regional power Saudi Arabia to ask for assistance.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants said they would allow rescue teams to tow the ship to safety.

The EU naval mission in the Red Sea, Aspides, will protect the vessels involved in the tow and monitor the entire operation, an Aspides official reiterated on Thursday.

A French frigate and a Greek frigate participating in Aspides were already in the area, one of the sources said.