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Three fires have been observed on board the 'Sounion' the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Aug 23, one day after it was evacuated by its crew after being attacked by Yemeni Houthi militants. The Houthi terrorists said on Aug 22 that they had attacked the tanker in the Red Sea. The UKMTO received reports of three fires being observed on the vessel, which appeared to be drifting. Later in the day, the Houthis posted a video on social media that purportedly showed them setting the tanker on fire. The ship, carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, now was posing an environmental hazard, the EU’s Red Sea naval mission Aspides said on Aug 22.The attack led to the loss of engine power, according to UKMTO. The vessel was anchored between Yemen and Eritrea. Report with photo and video: https://gcaptain.com/abandoned-tanker-sounion-on-fire-and-adrift-after-houthi-attack-in-red-sea/

After the attack by Houthi terrorists on Aug 21, the 'Sounion' was ablaze and had to be abandoned by its 25 crew members, among them two Russians and 23 Filipinos, at a position roughly 77 nautical miles west of the port of Hodeidah. The initial attack came at around 06:00 a.m. LT from two small boats, when the ship was sailing in the lower Red Sea. The 'Sounion' was en route from Al Basrah to Singapore, which is in the opposite direction to which the tanker was sailing. The vessel was struck by three or four projectiles which damaged the ship’s steering. An exchange of small arms fire also took place before the small boats, with a reported 15 people on board, left the scene. The 'Sounion' meanwhile was left unable to steer but was otherwise reported to be undamaged. At around 09:00 a.m. there was news of a further attack on the 'Sounion', which was set on fire when the ship was hit by two projectiles. The tanker now had also lost its engine power, and the vessel was drifting and not under command. No injuries were reported. The European naval force EUNAVFOR Aspides sent a French air defence frigate [FDA] – probably the 'Chevalier Paul', which transited the Suez Canal on Aug 16 – to assist the Greek tanker. Arriving alongside the 'Sounion' on Aug 22, the French frigate had to neutralise a surface drone which, a priori, was heading towards the disabled tanker, which could be anchored in the vicinity of pos. 15-00.00 N 041-37.00 E. Report with photos: https://gcaptain.com/abandoned-tanker-sounion-poses-environmental-risk-after-red-sea-attack/

On Aug 21, 2024, the 'SW North Wind', while sailing 57 nautical miles south of Aden, reported five explosions close to the vessel. The ship, however, remained undamaged. According to maritime security consultancy Vanguard and UKMTO, there were three further explosions over the next few hours. The vessel was unscathed and continued on its journey. It then sailed via Bab al-Mandeb, and while it was west of Hodeidah, the rebels launched another bomb attack, this time from an unmanned bomb boat. The explosion hit the water close to the ship but no significant damage was incurred and the vessel continued on its way northward. and continued proceeding towards its next port call. The ship had sailed from Singapore Anchorage on Aug 7 en route to Suez. No casualties were reported.

The 'Sounion' was attacked by two small boats and struck by three projectiles in the Red Sea off Yemen on Aug 21, 2024. There were no casualties reported among the 25 crew members, but the tanker was NUC and has lost the ability to manoeuvre. Initially the ship was approached by two small craft with approximately 15 people aboard. There was a brief exchange of small arms fire 77 nautical miles west of Hodeidah. The distance between the small craft and the merchant vessel subsequently increased to two nautical miles. At 5 a.m. LT, the master reported that two unidentified projectiles had struck the vessel before being hit by a third projectile. Smoke was reported in the engine room as well as one minor injury to a crew member. The ship has since come under a fourth attack and was not in a good condition.

The EU maritime mission Aspides warned that the damaged 'Sounion' was now posing a threat to the environment. The tanker was loaded 150,000 tons of oil, when it was hit by several projectiles on Aug 21, which caused a fire on board and disabled the ship. Responsibility for the attack has not been claimed. The crew was taken to nearby Djibouti. The 'Sounion' was anchored between Eritrea and Yemen. The owner Delta Tankers said that the ship will be transferred to a safe destination. Repairs can then be carried out there. As far as is known, the fire on board was under control. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2024/08/22/vrees-voor-milieuschade-na-aanval-op-griekse-tanker-sounios-in-rode-zee/