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The 'Sounion' has been successfully towed to safety without any oil spillage, the European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, Aspides, announced on Sep 16. The difficult towing operation was successfully completed by private actors. The Aspides mission will continue to monitor the situation. Fires were still visible from its deck while the ship was towed northwards. The convoy was escorted by three frigates, with helicopters overhead, while three tugs were engaged in the towage operation. The 'Sounion'’s destination is currently unknown with European naval forces merely stating a “safe location”. Salvors are now likely to assess how to proceed with a ship-to-ship transfer to empty the cargo of Iraqi heavy crude. Reports with photos: https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/defense/le-petrolier-sounion-attaque-en-mer-rouge-par-les-houthistes-est-en-lieu-sur-b5fb71f6-74cb-11ef-8ac3-f7eb9db10673 https://splash247.com/sounion-successfully-towed-away-from-yemeni-coastline/

On Sep 14, 2024. two incidents occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait (SS). At 01.25 a.m. the 'Atlantic Tiger' was boarded by six or seven perpetrators, while en route from Itaqui to China, in pos. 1° 3.3' N 103° 38.85' E. The perpetrators stole engine spares and escaped. The 'Sea Voyager' (IMO: 9799707), en route from Dhamra to Qingdao, was boarded by five perpetrators, armed with knives, approximately 5.9 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Cula in pos. 1° 4.18' N 103° 37.07' E. No information was available regarding stolen items.

The barge 'Alam 281', being towed by the 'Target 10', was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators pproximately 2.2 nautical miles south of Pulau Mungging, within the Johor Port Limit in pos. 1° 19.53' N 104° 17.5' E, on Sep 14, 2024, at 12.38 a.m. The intruders stole scrap metal from the barge. No injuries were reported.

The second effort to tow the 'Sounion' to a more secure location where salvage teams can access the vessel and determine the next steps got underwaya on Sep 13. Two tugs, one of them the 'Agion Pelagos', which had sailed from Piraeus, the other the 'Panormitis', approached he tanker, being escorted by French and Greek warships. It was expected that they were joining two other commercial salvage tugs hired by the insurers for Delta Tankers, operators of the vessel. Navigational notices were posted for the Red Sea advising all vessels to remain clear of the 'Sounion' with vessels having to remain at least five nautical miles from the 'Sounion'. The advisory indicated that the operation was commencing on the afternoon of Sep 13. The ship was probably towed towards the Suez Canal. The convoy was proceeding at very slow speed. Although the cargo was unlikely to explode, the fires were still fed by the crude oil evaporating and could burn for months if not dealt with quickly. With temperatures over 400ºC recorded on board, there is the likelihood that the heat could weaken the steel structure of the ship and make it vulnerable to breaking up and releasing large amounts of oil into the sea. Reports with photos: https://www.navylookout.com/naval-forces-in-the-red-sea-undertake-salvage-operation-in-attempt-to-prevent-ecological-catastrophe/ https://maritime-executive.com/article/photos-greek-salvors-take-burning-tanker-in-tow

On Sep 14, 2024. two incidents occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait (SS). At 01.25 a.m. the 'Atlantic Tiger' (IMO: 9874612) was boarded by six or seven perpetrators, while en route from Itaqui to China, in pos. 1° 3.3' N 103° 38.85' E. The perpetrators stole engine spares and escaped. The 'Sea Voyager', en route from Dhamra to Qingdao, was boarded by five perpetrators, armed with knives, approximately 5.9 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Cula in pos. 1° 4.18' N 103° 37.07' E. No information was available regarding stolen items.