UN: Almost One Third Of Oil On Purple Sea FSO Safer Tanker Transferred

By Saeed Al-Batati

The UN has stated that almost one third of the oil on Yemen’s deteriorating Safer tanker has been transferred to a brand new tanker, as Yemenis expressed optimism concerning the operation to salvage the vessel.

The UNDP administrator, Achim Steiner, stated on Sunday that 360.000 barrels of oil had been pumped from the ageing tanker to the alternative tanker.

“The #FSOSafer carried 1.15 m barrels of oil. So far 360,000 barrels or 1/3 have been transferred to the alternative tanker, the Yemen. Unwavering dedication and nice work by our groups proceed to drive the #StopRedSeaSpill operation,” Steiner stated on X. 

Final week, the UN introduced the beginning of the long-awaited strategy of transferring greater than 1 million barrels of oil from the FSO Safer tanker to a brand new tanker.

Moored off the coast of Yemen’s western metropolis of Hodeidah, the 47-year-old tanker has been at risk of collapsing or exploding since rust started consuming away on the tanker’s wall, permitting water to enter. 

Consultants have lengthy warned of a large environmental catastrophe if the tanker’s oil poured into the water, threatening the pure ecosystem and the livelihoods of 1000’s of Yemenis.

Folks in Yemen have expressed hope that the actions will finish the risk posed by the Safer tanker. 

Nabil bin Aifan, maritime security researcher from Yemen’s Mukalla and a Ph.D. candidate on the Arab Academy for Science Expertise and Maritime Transport in Egypt, informed Arab Information that the operation would profit Yemen by eradicating the risk posed by the Safer tanker and offering the nation with a brand new tanker to retailer oil for the long run as soon as the struggle ends.

“That is incredible information that oil switch from one tanker to a different has begun,” the researcher stated.

“Regardless of its late arrival, this section is crucial. The delay is being blamed on the Houthis and United Nations organizations as a consequence of their lack of efficient stress on the Houthis,” he stated.

Basem Al-Ruzaigi, director of the government-controlled Mocha on the Purple Sea, informed Arab Information that warnings concerning the tanker exploding or sinking had brought on nice concern among the many Yemeni individuals, notably these residing alongside the nation’s Purple Sea shoreline, and the UN ought to care for the alternative tanker.

“The (new) ship have to be routinely maintained in order that the tragedy and drawback don’t reoccur.” 

Different Yemenis, together with the director of the port of Mocha, Abdul Malik Al-Shaibani, have stated that the UN was defusing a time bomb, however that if oil was saved within the new tanker and never maintained completely, it might generate a second time bomb.

“Safer is a ticking time bomb, and the choice is likewise a ticking time bomb,“ Al-Shaibani informed Arab Information.

“The oil have to be offered, and the brand new tanker should endure thorough and continuous upkeep, not only for six months, because the United Nations says,” he stated.