Don’t Miss Your Daily Briefing for the Maritime Industry
Join the leading maritime news network
— trusted by our 109,190 members
Tugboats help tow the Greek-registered MT Sounion, which was attacked by Yemen's Houthi militants last year in the Red Sea, after it was successfully towed through Egypt's Suez Canal, in Ismailia, Egypt March 10, 2025. The Suez Canal Authority/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Photos: MT Sounion Transits Suez Canal Six Months After Houthi Attack
The Greek-registered MT Sounion oil tanker has successfully completed its transit through Egypt’s Suez Canal following a complex salvage operation in the Red Sea, where it was attacked by Houthi militants last year.
The vessel, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, suffered a devastating attack on August 21, 2024, when Houthi-launched anti-ship missiles disabled its critical control systems. Thankfully, a French frigate safely evacuated all 29 crew members aboard.
Two days later, the situation deteriorated further when Houthi forces boarded the vessel, detonating explosives across the main decks and bridge, causing more than a dozen fires on board and compromising the tanker’s structural integrity.
With the tanker burning, the U.S. State Department warned of a potential oil spill “four times the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster,” which prompted a massive international response.
Explosions take place on the deck of the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion on the Red Sea, in this handout picture released August 29, 2024. Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
The Sounion’s location—well within range of Houthi range—made the salvage operation a unique challenge. Explosive ordnance disposal teams had to clear unexploded devices before salvage could commence. Specialists from around the world were mobilized, with firefighting and towing equipment flown in under expedited diplomatic clearances.
The scale of the effort required advanced tugs from Greece and a flotilla of support vessels, alongside close protection from European Union naval assets.
In mid-September, the salvage flotilla, supported by three EUNAVFOR naval assets and close air support, managed to tow the Sounion to a safe location 150 miles north, where firefighting operations continued.
MT SOUNION under tow, September 14, 2024. Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES
Over the following three weeks, the fires were extinguished, the cargo tanks were patched and inerted, and the tanker was stabilized. By early October, the vessel was towed to Suez, where her cargo was safely offloaded.
In total, the operation brought together over 200 specialists and multiple organizations, including Megatugs Salvage & Towage, Diaplous, Offmain, Fire Aid, Pro Liquid, and Ambipar Response.
Suez Transit:
Tugboats help tow the Greek-registered MT Sounion, which was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi militants last year in the Red Sea, after it was successfully towed through Egypt’s Suez Canal, in Ismailia, Egypt March 10, 2025. The Suez Canal Authority/Handout via REUTERSThe Suez Canal Authority/Handout via REUTERS
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) for providing financial support to the Iran-backed Houthi group....
The U.S. Trade Representative's office will announce its plan on Thursday for levying port fees on China-linked ships as part of President Donald Trump's effort to revive domestic shipbuilding and counter China's dominance on the high seas.
Venture Global announced a significant advancement in U.S. LNG infrastructure with the commencement of commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass export facility in Louisiana. The project, completed in an impressive...
April 16, 2025
Total Views: 707
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 109,190 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 109,190 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.