A MARITIME incident occurred last month that is potentially dangerous not only to the seafarers on board but to the marine environment, which can impact everyone dependent on the sea for livelihood.
Houthi rebels attacked a Greek oil tanker on August 21. The footage that the Houthis released shows armed and masked fighters on the hijacked oil tanker and a person handling explosive devices, followed by five explosions on the ship. The attack caused the Sounion tanker to catch fire and experience an engine power cut.
The vessel was carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil at the time of the attack, which damaged the vessel. The crew was forced to flee and had to be rescued by a European warship. Filipino seafarers were among those on board. The situation underscores the ongoing risks in some regions due to regional conflicts and their impact on international maritime operations.
A salvage team was organized as the race against time began to prevent an environmental disaster in the Red Sea from the burning Greek tanker. Greece submitted an urgent notice to the IMO on August 29.
An urgent notice from the Directorate of Shipping of Greece said that a satellite image they obtained on the evening of August 29 by the Satellite Services of European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) showed that a “potential spill of about 2.2 nautical miles length has been detected.”
“Greece urges all nations and all actors involved to assist in preventing the environmental hazard and resolving the situation the soonest possible,” says the statement attributed to Rear Admiral H.C.G. Lagadianos Nikolaos.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis told media that he had spoken with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister and that they were coordinating efforts. According to news reports, Saudi Arabia would oversee the transfer of the oil.
The Houthis said on Thursday that they would permit a salvage attempt but denied that there would be a ceasefire. Late on Friday, the Houthis fired two missiles at an unidentified merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden. The ship was not hit, but the attack was meant to show they were serious.
The Sounion, according to the Houthis and maritime sources, has been rigged with explosives, making the operation complex, as it makes transferring the oil cargo to another ship dangerous.
If a spill occurs, it has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history and could cause an environmental catastrophe in an area that is particularly dangerous to access.
We are relieved that the 22 Filipino seafarers who were part of the crew of MT Sounion arrived safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on three separate flights starting last Saturday.
They were welcomed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Social Welfare and Development. They were given financial, food, transportation assistance and hotel accommodation for those who needed it. They were also given medical assessment and psycho-social counseling.
But in addition to our seafarers’ safety, we are deeply concerned over marine environment safety. Practices and regulations designed to protect the health and safety of oceans, seas, and coastal areas should be strengthened. This includes measures to prevent pollution, manage marine resources sustainably, and protect marine ecosystems. Many communities rely on the sea for their livelihood, and their well-being is closely tied to the health of marine environments.
Commercial and artisanal fishermen depend on healthy fish stocks for their income. Pollution can severely impact their livelihoods. Aquaculture workers farming fish, shellfish, and seaweed rely on clean, sustainable marine environments to grow their products.
Coastal and marine tourism, which includes activities like snorkeling, diving and whale watching, supports many businesses and jobs. People in coastal communities rely on the sea for transportation, food, and cultural practices. Our shipping industry is vital for global trade and provides numerous jobs.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, in his essay “The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance,” speaks about ecological economics, whose focus is on creating an economy that provides for “a just and sustainable future in which both human life and nonhuman life can flourish.” Activities that harm the environment will harm us eventually: “Disrespect the water, and the springs dry up. Waste the corn, and the garden grows barren. Regenerative economies which cherish and reciprocate the gift are the only path forward.” It is time we stop disrespecting the gifts of the earth and the sea and honor them with care and utmost protection.
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