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(Reuters) – Tugs are anticipated to start towing a broken Greek oil tanker on Sunday, Yemen’s Houthi International Minister Jamel Amer stated, because the vessel stays adrift and on fireplace within the Crimson Sea.
The Greek-registered Sounion poses an environmental hazard after it was broken in an Aug. 21 strike by Houthi forces.
The tanker, which the Houthis and maritime sources have stated has been rigged with explosives, is laden with about 1 million barrels of crude oil.
“Tug boats are anticipated to reach tomorrow, Sunday, to start towing the Sounion ship,” Amer stated in a press release on Fb.
The Houthis stated on Wednesday they might enable salvage crews to tow the ship – which has been on fireplace since Aug. 23 – to security amid fears of a possible slip of 150,000 tonnes of crude oil into the Crimson Sea.
If a spill happens, it has the potential to be among the many largest from a ship in recorded historical past and will trigger an environmental disaster in an space that’s notably harmful to entry.
Sources stated on Friday that any salvage operation would require an inspection and survey of the vessel to determine whether or not it may be towed to a port or if a ship-to-ship switch of its cargo is required.
Houthi militants have carried out a number of assaults, together with planting bombs, on the already disabled 900-foot (274-metre) Sounion, which is operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have been waging a marketing campaign towards industrial delivery to assist Palestinians within the battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
(Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Modifying by Christina Fincher)
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