On December 5, the 107 meter long, 9022 dwt container/cargo vessel Isa Star (IMO: 9210270) sustain an explosion in the Red Sea off Hodeidah, Yemen. The Isa Star alerted authorities it had suffered an explosion in the engine room resulting in fire and hull damage. The explosion was strong enough to damage the hull to allow water ingress. Without any way to control the flooding, the crew of the Isa Star requested evacuation. The European Union naval mission Aspidas dispatched a vessel which was able to safely evacuate all the crew off the Isa Star. The crew would be taken to Djibouti. Reports do not state if there was any injuries or the final outcome of the Isa Star.
On the morning of November 23, the 100 meter long, 8191 dwt cargo vessel VSG Glory (IMO: 9103025) ran aground in the Red Sea off El Quseir, Egypt. The VSG Glory was en route to Port Tawfiq in Suez from Yemen with 4,000 tons of cargo. Proceeding in heavy seas and strong winds, the cargo vessel suffered a technical malfunction off El Quseir. The VGS Glory drifted until it was nearly ashore when it pilled up on a coral reef. No reports of injuries.
The vessel sustained substantial damage with a fracture in the hull and water ingress causing the VSG Glory to sink by the stern. The engine room was reported as flooded releasing pollution in the area. Authorities dispatched a team to the scene and placed booms and absorbent pads to contain the pollution. These booms would later separate allowing the pollution to contaminate the reef and nearby shoreline. Reports state the coral reef had extensive damage caused by the grounding and pollution released.
The Sounion was impacted by three projectiles on the starboard quarter damaging the engine room
A fire in the engine room had been contained, but the fire and explosion had caused a power blackout on the tanker
The crew was able to abandon ship with one crew member sustaining a minor injury
The Sounion was able to drop anchor
August 23
A second attack was executed on the abandoned 274 meter long, 163,759 dwt oil tanker Sounion (IMO: 9312145). Explosive charges were placed on the deck and detonated resulting in further explosions and fires on at least five sections on the main deck. The Sounion appears to still be afloat, but reports state the vessel’s structural integrity is at high risk.
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
August 28
An attempt to salvage the Sounion ended in failure. Two tugs were dispatched with plans to bring the tanker under tow to a safety, but these tugs were threatened with being attacked and the salvage attempted was called off. United States military reports that the Sounion has begun leaking crude oil, but no oil sheen is visible around the tanker. With over one million barrels of crude oil onboard, the Sounion has a potential of leaking nearly 4 times as much oil as released by the Exxon Valdez (257,000 barrels released in 1989). Reports state the Sounion could easily break apart as the tanker’s integrity continues to fail caused by the damage and fires.
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
August 29
Reports state salvage vessels and tugboat will be allowed to proceed to the Sounion. Multiple countries had made a plea to allow salvage in order to avoid environmental disaster which prompted the policy change. No details on how quickly the salvage team can reach the tanker and if the structural integrity will allow it to be towed to a secure location. It is assumed the priority is to extinguish the fires and cool down the hull before any lightering or taking the vessel under tow.
