Transfer of oil from ‘Sounion’ gets underway off Suez
STS operation using portable pumping gear is estimated to take two weeks
Owner said to be planning to repair suezmax tanker set ablaze by Houthis more than two months ago
TRANSFER of a large cargo of crude oil from the fire-ravaged tanker Sounion (IMO: 9312145) is underway, more than two months after a Houthi attack that raised the spectre of an environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea.
The ship-to-ship transfer of 1m barrels of Iraqi crude is expected to take about two weeks.
Salvors are using portable pumping equipment as the tanker’s own machinery was crippled during the attack back in August.
The STS operation will see the entire cargo received by the 158,322 dwt Delta Blue (IMO: 9601235), another vessel in the fleet of Delta Tankers, Sounion’s Greece-based manager.
Experts have estimated that less than 10% of the 150,000 tonnes of crude on board Sounion is likely to have burned off, despite the fact that fires burned for many weeks along the length of the tanker’s deck.
After the initial attack, a Houthi boarding party deliberately set about 18 separate fires on deck using explosive charges and these had to be eventually doused with foam during the salvage operation.
The transfer is taking place at a safe anchorage off Suez with a large array of oil spill response equipment deployed to minimise pollution risks.
Aigaion Pelagos (IMO: 9477012), the Megatugs Salvage & Towage vessel that initially towed the burning tanker to safety, is remaining alongside the tanker during the STS operation.
Panormitis (IMO: 9541899), an anchor handling and supply tug from the same company, is also in support.
Sounion’s cargo was being transported for the Motor Oil refinery in Corinth, Greece, it is understood.
Although the 2006-built tanker is thought to have sustained damage running into millions of dollars, it is likely to be far below its value.
Lloyd’s List has been told by a source close to the operation that once the STS transfer has been concluded the owner is planning to bring Sounion “to the Mediterranean” for repairs.
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