There is a new shipping crisis in the Red Sea, an extension of the existing attacks and threats that have plagued the region since the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas.
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attacked and blew up oil tanks on vessel Suezmax Sounion, leading to the new hazard of an oil tanker burning in fire in the middle of one of the busiest maritime regions in the world.
As of mid-week, flames were still seen shooting out from the vessel in question. There were immediate concerns that the Sounion would lead to an environmental calamity worse than the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster of the late 1980s, which led to a giant oil spill that damaged the marine and local environment in Alaska.
Where do things stand now?
As of yesterday, the United Nations (U.N.) was mediating dialogue between the Houthis, Iranians, and the rest of the world on what to do regarding the attack. The main goal in question was risk mitigation. Specifically, the U.N. wanted to strike a deal to allow rescue ships to help the ship and minimize the chances of a massive spill like the one on the Exxon Valdez.
Iran’s mission to the U.N. claimed that the Houthi’s, based out of Yemen, were poised to allow tugboats and rescue vessels to help with mitigation and risk aversion efforts. There was no confirmation available as of the start of business today as to whether the rescue efforts are underway. A previous attempt to assist the ship was reportedly blocked earlier in the week.
The ship Sounion appears to be leaking oil. There were coral reefs, marine life, and wildlife in the Red Sea region. A prolonged and massive oil ship threatens that natural environment, so the disaster is being taken very seriously.
The latest attack by the Houthis is the most serious escalation of the so-called Red Sea Crisis in months.
The Sounion is Greek-flagged and not connected to Israel, according to multiple international organizations such as the U.N. and world governments. The shipping industry is obviously watching closely and hoping for the best.
