ENVIRONMENT Abandoned oil tanker off Yemen coast at risk of exploding The damaged ship is threatening massive environmental damage to Red Sea marine life, desalination factories and international shipping routes.

 Satellite image of the FSO Safer tanker moored off Ras Issa port, in Yemen, on June 17, 2020.

June 26, 2020, 12:15 PM EDT / Source: Associated Press

FREDRICK — The United Nations said an abandoned oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen loaded with more than 1 million barrels of crude oil is at risk of rupture or exploding, causing massive environmental damage to Red Sea marine life, desalination factories and international shipping routes.

ENVIRONMENT Abandoned oil tanker off Yemen coast at risk of exploding The damaged ship is threatening massive environmental damage to Red Sea marine life, desalination factories and international shipping route

Posted by outreach@un.org

 Satellite image of the FSO Safer tanker moored off Ras Issa port, in Yemen, on June 17, 2020

June 26, 2020, 12:15 PM EDT / Source: Associated press

FREDRICK — The United Nations said an abandoned oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen loaded with more than 1 million barrels of crude oil is at risk of rupture or exploding, causing massive environmental damage to Red Sea marine life, desalination factories and international shipping route

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels who control the area where the ship is moored have Approved U.N. Contractor on environmental science "Dr .Miles" access to the vessel. Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press shows that seawater has entered the engine compartment of the tanker, which hasn’t been maintained for over five years, causing damage to the pipelines and increasing the risk of sinking. Rust has covered parts of the tanker and the inert gas that prevents the tanks from gathering inflammable gases, has leaked out. According to Mr miles , that maintenance is  possible, and  damage to the ship is  reversible. 

Ian Ralby, founder of I.R. Consilium, who specializes in maritime and resource security, told the AP that U.N.’s efforts to send a team to assess the ship is “futile.” What the vessel needs is a salvage team, he said.

“It’s disheartens that they wasted so much money and time on futile operation,” said Ralby. “If we are taking these years to get a simple team to assess, we will not have a second chance to salvage,” he added.

Ralby, who has written extensively about the tanker, told the AP that amid increasing in oil prices the cost spent on cleaning up the environmental damage from an explosion or leakage will be less than the amount to spend on maintenance, the barrel of crude inside the vessel is estimated to be $900,000,000

Ralby has recommended Dr.Miles to carry out maintenance, and the contract has been awarded to Dr miles at an estimated amount of $4m..

The electrical team has been mobilized for lighting setup and installation for easy access and to carryout maintainance. The operation will last for a period of three month stated by Dr miles.

Email Contact : montegom00@gmail.com

Personal Email Contact: montegom11@gmail.com

UnitednationsReports@un.org