WORK to salvage the crude oil tanker Sounion (IMO: 9312145) was due to begin on Monday afternoon with the assistance of two sanctioned tugs, but the plan and ultimate destination of the burning tanker remain uncertain.

According to European Naval Force’s Operation Aspides, which is providing security to the salvage operation, preparations to tow the tanker were set to begin at some point on Monday afternoon.

Sounion remains at anchor, but several flames are still visible on deck, according to an Aspides spokesperson.

Three tugs are en route to the Greece-flagged, 2006-built,163,759 dwt Sounion. Gladiator (IMO: 7621011) and Hercules (IMO: 9558517), both of which are sanctioned by US Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control, are approaching from the south, while Red Bull (IMO: 7911636) is approaching from the north.

Ofac has not confirmed whether it has granted an exemption for the sanctioned vessels to be contracted in the operation.

Operation Aspides said destroyers and frigates would be protecting the three tugs in an EU-led operation, with “no external actors” involved.

The spokesperson said preparations to tow Sounion would begin today and said the operation was in a “critical phase”.

Lloyd’s List was asked not to name the party directing the salvage operation because there remains a threat to life to those involved.

None of the parties involved in the salvage operation were able to confirm Sounion’s next destination, citing security sensitivities.

Owner Delta Tankers said it was doing “everything it can to move the vessel [and cargo]” but again said it could not comment further “for security reasons”. The Greece-based owner said it was thankful for the support of EUNAVFOR.

This development comes after Greek Director General for Shipping, Rear Admiral Lagadianos Nikolaos, wrote to the International Maritime Organization urging all nations to act to prevent the “environmental hazard” that an oil spill from Sounion would present.

He said a satellite image obtained on August 29 by the European Maritime Safety Agency showed a potential spill of 2.2 nautical miles in a position matching the location of the ship, although it is unclear whether this spill is fuel oil or the vessel’s crude cargo. Earlier on August 29, Operation Aspides said no oil spill had been detected by its ships.

Salvage specialist Boskalis told Lloyd’s List there had been a request for it to offer support, but confirmed it was not involved in the operation.

Spokesperson Martijn Schuttevaer told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Boskalis was “on standby to mobilise, but first the ship must be brought to a safe location”.

Boskalis was involved in the salvage of floating storage vessel Safer, transferring 1.1m barrels of crude from the decaying FSO Safer to replacement tanker Yemen (IMO: 9323948), which was purchased by the UN from Euronav for the project.