Yemen’s Houthi group has agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged Delta Tanker suezmax in the Red Sea, according to Reuters.
The 164,000-dwt Sounion (built 2006) was attacked by the Houthis last week and a “third party” tried to send two tugs to help salvage the crude oil tanker but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, Yemen’s Houthis spokesperson, told Reuters on Wednesday there is no temporary truce and the group only agreed to allow the towing of the Sounion after several international parties contacted the group.
Iran’s United Nations mission in New York said: “Several countries have reached out to Ansarullah [the Houthis], requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area.”
“In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request,” it said.
The Sounion tanker was attacked off Hodeidah on 23 August and remained on fire and immobilised days after the assault.
The tanker was also reported to be hauling 922,000 barrels of Iraqi crude when it was attacked, according to Kpler tracking data.
It poses an environmental hazard and any spill from the Sounion has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history, Reuters said.
The Yemeni Houthi group said it attacked the tanker in part because Delta Tankers violated its ban on “entry to the ports of occupied Palestine”.
Delta Tankers told TradeWinds on Wednesday that it is doing everything it can to move the vessel and its cargo.
A major oil spill could leave insurers facing payouts of more than $600m even with the Greek shipowner limiting its liabilities with affected coastal states.
The Sounion was the third vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be attacked in the Red Sea this month.
The Houthi militants began aerial drone and missile strikes on the Red Sea in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
In more than 70 attacks, they have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.
