Reuters
Two oil and toxic waste-carrying ships have been surrounded in the Red Sea on the frontlines between Western naval forces and armed Houthi rebels, despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to tow the ships and unload them to prevent a spill.
One of the two ships, has been trapped for years, near the port of Ras Isa where the Houthi rebels allied with Iran carry out their attacks on ships passing through Red Sea, where American missiles also fall during targeting of the Houthis.
Last year, the United Nations led efforts to unload a million barrels of oil from the dilapidated oil tanker, the FSO Safer, to a new tanker at an estimated cost of $121 million.
The UN hoped to move the oil tanker Safer, which still contains water with toxic waste and oil residues, to dispose of it elsewhere and sell the oil on the new ship.
A Houthi source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that the two ships have not moved since August and no agreement has been reached between the Houthis and their adversaries in the internationally recognized Yemeni government on who will receive the money of the oil sale while there is also no agreement on pulling the ship away.
A spokesperson for the United Nations Development Programme stated that discussions are in progress “with all parties involved in Yemen” regarding the delivery of the ship.
The spokesperson said, “UNDP has not received any indication from the actual rulers in Yemen regarding intentionally threats that cause damage to the ship,” referring to the Houthis.
A source in the internationally recognized Yemeni government, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, believed that the Houthis have refused to release either of the ships in order to strengthen their negotiating position.
Safer, the oil tanker, a giant vessel built in the 1970s, was converted into a floating facility for oil storage and unloading before the outbreak of the civil war in Yemen in 2014.
Now the deterioration of its structure threatens to leak its cargo into the Red Sea.
Last year, the UN contracted with the Dutch-based company, SMIT Salvage, to remove the oil while the Belgian firm, Euronav, provided the new ship.
A shipping source stated that the toxic residues and wash water used to clean the oil from the tanker have not been removed yet.
The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, added that around 70,000 tons of waste are still on board of the ship “Safer” .
A spokesperson for Boccalino, the main company of SMIT Salvage, stated that the company was contracted to remove the oil but not the ship “Safer”.
Euronav’s Belgian company has had a crew on board the new ship since August under its agreement with the UN.
A spokesperson for the UNDP stated, “Once the transfer process is complete, the crew will leave.”
Euronav stated that it continues to assist the UNDP in safely delivering the new ship, but has not identified who will eventually take possession of the ship.
