U.S. Warns of Escalating Pollution Risk from Damaged Tanker in Red Sea

An abandoned oil tanker, attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea a week ago, is now burning and leaking, potentially leading to an environmental disaster, according to a Pentagon spokesperson on August 27. The situation has raised alarm over what could become a severe ecological catastrophe in the region.

The European Union’s naval force in the area had previously described the tanker as an imminent environmental threat but noted that there was no visible oil spill and that the vessel was anchored. This contrasts with U.S. reports indicating that the tanker is leaking oil, and a U.K. Navy post suggesting the ship might be drifting.

The 900-foot tanker, Sounion, was transporting 150,000 tons of dense Iraqi crude oil when it was attacked and disabled by Houthi militants last week. The crew was rescued, but further fires were reported on board, and the Houthis released a video showing the attack and explosion. The incident highlights the complexities of addressing environmental damage in a region designated as a warlike area by maritime insurers.

The Pentagon stated that the Houthis have warned off salvage teams attempting to approach the tanker, making it unclear how a potential leak, which could rank among the largest oil spills in history, might be handled. Modern oil tankers like the Sounion are designed with multiple tanks and double hulls to minimize spills, but the exact nature of the leak remains uncertain.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, confirmed that the Sounion is currently immobilized in the Red Sea, on fire, and appears to be leaking oil, posing both a navigational hazard and an environmental catastrophe. Merchant ships in the Red Sea have frequently been targeted by Houthis since last year, as part of their retaliation against Israel’s activities in Gaza.

Two tugboats sent by a third-party entity to assist the burning Sounion were warned away by the Houthis, and U.S. Central Command is actively monitoring the situation, coordinating with maritime partners to determine how best to assist the vessel. Cleanup efforts will be challenging due to the Houthis’ threats to attack any supporting vessels, coupled with their limited capacity to manage oil spills on Yemen’s shores.

The tanker is reportedly owned and operated by Greek shipping company Delta Tankers, and its crew was evacuated with help from the French navy. Delta Tankers has stated that they are doing everything possible to move the vessel and its cargo, but for security reasons, they are not in a position to provide further details.
Satellite imagery from August 25 shows the tanker on fire in the southern Red Sea, approximately 90 miles west of Yemen’s Hodeidah port and about 40 miles from the coast of Eritrea. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has acknowledged the high risk of an oil spill and the serious environmental threat it poses, noting that they are monitoring the situation closely.