The Greek-flagged tanker “Sounion” of Delta tankers carrying 150,000 tons of oil is being towed to a safe anchoring point to the north of the Red Sea at a slow and safe speed by the Greek rescue vessel “Aigaion Pelagos”.

“Aigaion Pelagos” is also accompanied by the rescue tug “Panormitis”, with firefighting and oil spill recovery capabilities, as well as three warships, one of which is the “Psara” frigate, as well as a special armed group.

The goal of the rescue crews, once the tanker is anchored, is to extinguish the fires on the deck, which were caused by the placement of explosives by Houthi armed groups.

The tanker is still burning, more than four weeks after it was first attacked by the Houthis, while its 25-member crew (23 Filipinos and two Russians) were taken safely to Djibouti by a French destroyer.

According to Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) sources, measurements carried out by the rescue ship’s crew on the deck of the tanker showed temperatures of 400 degrees Celsius. What will be next be attempted is to extinguish the fire using foam and water and then the sealing the holes caused by the Houthi explosives.

The Inert Gas System will be used so that the oil can then be decanted and transported safely to another ship. According to fuel company executives, in order for a fire to start and be sustained, oxygen, fuel, appropriate temperature and the chain reaction must all coexist at the same time. If one of these elements is removed or its ratio reduced, then the possibility of explosion and fire is reduced through inactivation.