More than 20 days after the Houthi assault, which ignited a fire on board and forced the crew to abandon ship, recovery efforts for the Sounion began on September 13, 2024. The tanker was still adrift with flames on board in the waters of the Red Sea. The Greek tugboat Aigaion Pelagos managed to secure the ship and started towing it north, away from the reach of Yemeni forces, who, in the preceding days, had nonetheless agreed to allow rescue operations.
For safety reasons, the tugboat’s approach and maneuvers were accompanied by a strong military presence, including three frigates and helicopters from the European mission Navfor Aspides. Also present was the tugboat Panormitis, ready to intervene should the fire escalate. It is estimated that the temperature on the deck of the Sounion has reached 400°C. The main concern remains the potential sinking of the vessel or a spill of the 150,000 tons of oil it carries.
The completion of the recovery operation could take weeks, not only due to the delicate nature of the situation but also because a final port to harbor the ship has not yet been determined. The Sounion was attacked near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on August 21 and is the third vessel from Delta Tankers to be targeted in the Red Sea in just a few weeks.
In September 2024, there appears to have been a decline in Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, though they have not ceased entirely. On September 2, the oil tanker Blue Lagoon was struck, sustaining damage but not critically.
