Oil tanker hit by Huthis could spill ‘millions of barrels’, US warns August 26, 2024

This photo taken on 7 March 2024 shows the Rubymar cargo ship partially submerged off the coast of Yemen. (AFP)

This photo taken on 7 March 2024 shows the Rubymar cargo ship partially submerged off the coast of Yemen. (AFP)

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Oil tanker hit by Huthis could spill ‘millions of barrels’, US warns

The United States warned on Saturday of a possible environmental disaster in the Red Sea after Huthi rebels hit an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen.

The Greek-flagged Sounion was hit on Wednesday off the rebel-controlled port city of Hodeida, and the Iranian-backed Huthis claimed to have hit the vessel with drones and missiles.

On Friday, the UKMTO maritime agency said that three fires were seen on the ship, while a video released by the Huthis on social media allegedly showed three explosions on the ship.

The 274-metre-long ship sailed from Iraq and was bound for a port near Athens, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil.

‘Continued attacks by the Huthis threaten to spill one million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times greater than the Exxon Valdez disaster,’ said Matthew Miller of the US State Department in a statement on Saturday.

The Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 released 257,000 barrels along the Alaskan coast.

‘Although the crew has been evacuated, the Huthis seem determined to sink the ship and its cargo at sea,’ said Miller.

The crew of the Sounian made up of 23 Filipinos and two Russians, was rescued by a ship from the European Union's Aspides mission.

The naval mission also warned that the unmanned vessel posed ‘an environmental and navigational hazard’.

The Huthi rebels launched their campaign against international shipping in November, claiming that it is supporting Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

In March, the Belize-flagged Rubymar, operated by Lebanon, became the first ship targeted by the Huthis to sink during the conflict.

The Rubymar sank in the Red Sea with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer on board.

The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor also sank in June after being hit by the Huthis.

Several sailors were also killed or injured in the attacks, which severely disrupted global maritime transport.

‘Through these attacks, the Huthis have made it clear that they are intent on destroying the fishing sector and regional ecosystems that Yemenis and other communities in the region depend on for their livelihoods,’ Miller said on Saturday.

‘We call on the Huthis to stop these actions immediately and urge other nations to step forward to help avert this environmental disaster,’ he added.

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