Red Sea tanker risks environmental disaster

An oil tanker targeted by Yemen’s Houthis appears to be leaking oil, the Pentagon says. The ship is carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude and a spill has the potential to be among the largest on record


MV SOUNION 
Length: 274m 
Width: 50m

Fires seen on deck of MV Sounion on Aug 25


Aug 21: Greek-flagged tanker Sounion, carrying more than 150,000 tonnes – equivalent to one million barrels – hit by missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels

Aug 22: Sounion’s 25 crew rescued by French warship from EU’s Operation Aspides naval force

Aug 23: Houthis post video purportedly showing them setting Sounion on fire

Aug 27: Pentagon says vessel appears to be leaking crude and warns of “environmental catastrophe”


Red Sea
ERITREA
Sounion
ETHIOPIA
SAUDI ARABIA
Saada
Sanaa
Hodeida 
Houthi-controlled territory
YEMEN
Aden
Gulf of Aden
DJIBOUTI
SOMALIA
200km 125 miles


Sources: Reuters, BBC, UKMTO
Picture: EUNAVFOR
© GRAPHIC NEWS