Start of rescue operation for burning tanker in Red Sea

The crew of two Russian and 23 Filipino sailors were evacuated and the ship abandoned. At least five fires have since been seen burning around the oil tank hatches on the ship, with officials warning that the vessel and its oil contents pose not only an environmental hazard but also a navigation hazard.

Pentagon officials said late last month that previous rescue operations had been thwarted by Houthi threats of attack, while expressing concern that the ship was likely leaking oil.

Eunavfor Aspides, the European Union military operation in the Red Sea, says there is no visible sign of an oil spill.

It was announced on Monday that third-party rescue operations would begin, but few details were provided.

The EU military mission said in a statement it would provide tugboats for the operation and “facilitate their efforts to avert an environmental catastrophe.”

The ship was found to pose a “serious environmental risk” due to the amount of oil stored on it.

Emboldened by Israel’s war in Gaza, Yemen’s Houthis have been imposing a military blockade of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November, attacking merchant ships and American and British warships attempting to pass through the vital trade route.

Iranian militias say the blockade is an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis have seized at least one ship, sunk two and killed four sailors in some 150 attacks on vessels during the blockade.

According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the statement comes after two unidentified commercial vessels collided in the Red Sea.

One was hit by two missiles early Monday morning about 70 nautical miles northwest of Saleef, Yemen. The other was hit about five hours later near the first strike, about 58 nautical miles west of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.

Neither ship suffered any losses and both continued their journey to their next port of call.