The Sounion was attacked and the Houthis targeted the Greek ship owner
After two failed attacks, the Houthis recently launched a new attack on Tankers owned by the Greek ship owner Delta Tankers. Yesterday, the Greek oil tanker Sounion (163,759 DWT) was attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea. The ship left Iraq on Aug. 12 and was headed to Cape Town, South Africa, when it was attacked.
According to reports, two small vessels of Houthi forces approached the tanker in the northern Red Sea and attempted armed intervention. A small exchange of fire ensued, and although the smaller boats then retreated, the Sounion was attacked two hours later by two "unknown objects." The initial assessment is that the attack may have been carried out by drone or missile.
Nevertheless, less than an hour later, the Sounion was attacked again, this time sparking a fire on board and causing the ship to lose power.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Service (UKMTO), the Sounion is currently adrift out of control. Vanguard, a maritime safety consultancy, reported smoke in the ship's engine room and a minor injury to one crew member.
The Houthis have said publicly that they targeted Delta Tankers because of its history of shipping goods to Israel.
In fact, this is not the first time the Houthis have attacked oil Tankers owned by Delta Tankers. On the 9th and 13th of this month alone, two of the company's Liberian-flagged tankers, the Delta Blue and the Delta Atlantica, were attacked multiple times in the Red Sea, but armed security guards blew up an approaching drone boat in time to prevent further damage.
According to reports, two small vessels of Houthi forces approached the tanker in the northern Red Sea and attempted armed intervention. A small exchange of fire ensued, and although the smaller boats then retreated, the Sounion was attacked two hours later by two "unknown objects." The initial assessment is that the attack may have been carried out by drone or missile.
Nevertheless, less than an hour later, the Sounion was attacked again, this time sparking a fire on board and causing the ship to lose power.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Service (UKMTO), the Sounion is currently adrift out of control. Vanguard, a maritime safety consultancy, reported smoke in the ship's engine room and a minor injury to one crew member.
The Houthis have said publicly that they targeted Delta Tankers because of its history of shipping goods to Israel.
In fact, this is not the first time the Houthis have attacked oil Tankers owned by Delta Tankers. On the 9th and 13th of this month alone, two of the company's Liberian-flagged tankers, the Delta Blue and the Delta Atlantica, were attacked multiple times in the Red Sea, but armed security guards blew up an approaching drone boat in time to prevent further damage.
