YEMEN

Allgemeine Informationen

Kurs/Position

Die neuesten Nachrichten

Two tankers still stuck in firing line

The two tankers 'Safer' and 'Yemen', containing oil and toxic waste, have been stuck in the Red Sea in the firing line between Western naval forces and Yemen's Houthi militants despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to empty and move the ships to avoid a spill. The vessels are near the port of Ras Issa, from where Iran-aligned Houthis launch missiles on ships passing through the Red Sea and where US missiles land as they target the Houthis. A million barrels of oil have been transferred from the decaying FSO 'Safer' onto the 'Yemen' in an operation that cost $121 million. The UN had hoped to move the FSO 'Safer' for disposal elsewhere and sell the oil aboard the 'Yemen'. Besides toxic sludge and wash water used to scrub oil out of the tanker, some 70,000 metric tons of residue were still onboard the FSO 'Safer'. Neither of the ships has moved since August 2023, as the Houthis and their foes in Yemen’s internationally-recognised government could not agree who should receive the money for the oil, and there was no an agreement to tow the ship away either. The UN Development Programme was in discussion with all relevant parties in Yemen about the handover of the vessel. The UNDP has not had any indication from the de facto authorities in Yemen of threats to deliberately damage the vessel. The Houthis have refused to release either of the ships, using them to increase their bargaining power. Belgium's Euronav has maintained a crew onboard the 'Yemen' since August under its contract with the UN. Once the handover process is complete, the crew will leave. Euronav scontinued to assist the UNDP to safely handover the 'Yemen', without specifying who might ultimately receive the ship.

Lighter tanker at holding anchorage after oil transfer from Safer

As of Aug 31, 2023, the 'Yemen' was at a holding anchorage off Hodeidah pending the installation of a specialised buoy after the oil transfer from the FSO '*Safer'. $22 million was still required to complete the whole project, taking the total cost to more than $140 million. The Boskalis multipurpose support vessel 'Ndeavor' has left for Djibouti, where the salvage crew will disembark, before the vessel returns to Rotterdam. The departure from Yemen marked the end of a complex salvage operation that began in late May. With the successful oil transfer, a huge environmental disaster with serious humanitarian, environmental, and economic consequences was averted. The FSO 'Safer' was now due to be towed away for scrapping.

Tanker arrived in Hodeidah for oil transfer

The 'Nautica' was transferred to the Hudaidah Anchorage off the coast of Yemen arriving on July 16, where final preparations are being made for the transfer of the oil from the FSO 'Safer'. There was a handover ceremony today delivering the crude oil tanker to SEPOC, the Yemeni oil and gas company. The tanker is expected to go alongside the FSO 'Safer' and the oil transfer to begin next week. The salvage team from SMIT was contracted by UNDP to undertake the efforts for the preparation and transfer and the preparation of the FSO Safer for recycling. the Boskalis salvage team from SMIT has been on-site at the FSO 'Safer' since the end of May. Over the past seven weeks, they have completed a comprehensive survey of the FSO Safer and its equipment as well as an environmental survey of the area. They report the hull of the decaying vessel has largely remained intact with no leaks or issues in the air. However, the UN previously determined that the FSO Safer was beyond repair and needs to be urgently replaced. SMIT brought in a portable inert gas generator to stabilize the tanks to ensure they would be ready for the oil transfer. Last week, the UN reported that SMIT had certified that the operation was ready to proceed. After completing the transfer of oil, SMIT will undertake cleaning of the tanks aboard the FSO 'Safer' to remove as much residual oil and material. All the waste material will also be transferred to the 'Nautica' for storage. A final plan for the disposal of the FSO 'Safer' has not been announced. The monies raised from the sale of the ship are to be used to fund the UN-led salvage operation. Last week, speaking at the UN Security Council, an official highlighted that the UN has made an emergency loan to the project and still needed to raise $25 million to complete the project and repay the loan from the UN. As of July 17, the 'Nautica' was moored on Hoheidah Anchorage in pos. 15° 04.08' N 042° 35.59' E. Reportwith photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/euronav-s-former-vlcc-tanker-arrives-in-yemen-for-fso-safer-salvage