SOUNION

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Latest news

Cargo removal completed, wreck to be dismantled or repaired

After the salvage of the 'Sounion', last year’s most high profile Houthi vessel attack, has been completed. the tanker will now likely head for scrap, but its owners, Delta Tankers, are also considering to repair it at a shipyard in Türkiye. The commercial salvage operation, that ultimately involved more than 200 personnel, was launched by the vessel insurers, led by the UK firm Ambrey. The salvage operations could only begin once explosive ordnance disposal experts had inspected the vessel and cleared it of any unexploded ordnance or improvised explosive devices, its anchor raised, and a primary towing tug put in position. The scale and complexity of what had happened meant that specialist tugs were mobilised from Greece and firefighting equipment flown in on chartered aircraft, along with specialists from around the world. Firefighting faced huge challenges with the heat and humidity of the Red Sea, meaning operations were primarily conducted at night. The fires were extinguished, cargo tanks patched and pressurised with inert gas, and the vessel declared safe. In early October, it was towed north to Suez for the removal of its cargo, which has now been completed. Reports with photos: https://splash247.com/epic-salvage-of-sounion-tanker-complete/ https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/to-save-the-sounion-ambrey-combined-salvage-with-security-and-politics

Oil removal completed

More than three months after the Houthi terrorist attack on the 'Sounion', the tanker has been successfully unloaded. The threat of the spill is over, but the tanker is heavily damaged and the attack raised new concerns of the scope of the Houthi efforts. Officials from Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy confirmed the removal of the oil has been completed at the anchorage south of the Suez Canal. The operators of the tanker, Delta Tankers of Greece, had sent the tanker 'Delta Blue' to receive the oil. The operation had been underway since Oct 7, when a sakvage team of 27 people began work to stop the 18 fires set by the Houthi terrorists after the vessel was abandoned. The operation was made more challenging because the fires which had been burning for more than a month had fatigued the metal plates of the tanker. In addition, there is no power aboard the 'Sounion'. The initial Houthi attack on Aug 21 had damaged the engine room and left it disabled. The subsequent effort at setting off explosives on the vessel also destroyed the navigation bridge and possibly other control areas. The salvage team had to use portable pumps.

Cargo transfer has commenced

An operation to transfer approximately 150,000 tons of crude oil from the 'Sounion' to the 'Delta Blue'', using portable equipment, started at a safe anchorage point in the port of Suez on Nov 7. It is being conducted by a salvage crew aboard the tug 'Aigaion Pelagos'. The process is expected to take three to four weeks. The 20 separate fires caused by explosions triggered by the Houthis have been successfully extinguished by the crew of the 'Aigaion Pelagos'. The primary goal is to secure the ship and ensure its stability, as it lacks operational mechanical systems and its hull plates have been weakened by deck fires and subsequent explosions after being struck in a drone attack on Aug 21.