Sounion: Red Sea attack, fire and salvage
Sounion was attacked in the Red Sea on 21 August 2024 while carrying about 150,000 tonnes of crude oil. Its crew was evacuated, but further attacks left the tanker burning. Naval escorts and salvors later moved it to safety; the salvage operator confirmed cargo removal in January 2025.[4][5]
Last documented outcome
As of 10 Jan 2025
Salvage and cargo removal confirmed
On 10 January 2025, salvage operator Ambrey reported that the fires had been extinguished and the cargo removed after a tow to Suez. This is the operator's completion report, not an independent assessment of long-term environmental effects.[5]
The sequence of events
6 dated reports · 21 Aug 2024 to 10 Jan 2025Tanker attacked in the southern Red Sea
Sounion came under attack while carrying crude oil. NOAA's subsequent initial notification described a missile attack and fire; the EU naval mission reported that the tanker requested help after this first attack.
No new position in this report.
Reported points only. No inferred track. Playback advances every 5 seconds.
Milestone 1 of 6: 21 Aug 2024. Tanker attacked in the southern Red Sea. No new position in this report.
Tanker attacked in the southern Red Sea
Sounion came under attack while carrying crude oil. NOAA's subsequent initial notification described a missile attack and fire; the EU naval mission reported that the tanker requested help after this first attack.
People aboard are evacuated
Ambrey's later account dates the rescue to 22 August: a French frigate serving with Operation ASPIDES evacuated everyone aboard. The IMO subsequently confirmed that all seafarers had been rescued.
NOAA records the oil-spill risk area
NOAA opened an incident record to assess the potential consequences of a major spill, giving an approximate area point at 14°16.54′N, 42°18.50′E. Separately, the EU later reported that a second attack on this date caused fires on the deck and bridge.
NOAA approximate August 2024 incident area (14.276°, 42.308°)
IMO warns of continuing spill risk
The IMO confirmed the evacuation but said the risk of an oil spill remained high. It was coordinating with national, regional and UN bodies. A spill risk assessment is not evidence that the entire cargo had leaked.
Tow to a safe area is confirmed
Operation ASPIDES announced that salvors had towed the tanker to a safe area under naval protection, with no oil spill during that phase. Further salvage work remained with private stakeholders; arrival did not mean the cargo had already been removed.
Operator confirms salvage and cargo removal
Ambrey reported that firefighting and tank repairs had made the vessel safe, followed by a tow to Suez in early October. It confirmed cargo removal was complete by this announcement; the release does not give an exact unloading-completion date.
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Details in the record
Reading this account
The mapped point is NOAA's approximate incident area recorded in August 2024, not the tanker's current position or a surveyed wreck. Later updates provide no precise destination coordinates. This account ends with the January 2025 salvage report and does not establish that the wider Red Sea shipping route is safe.
A warning being cancelled does not establish that a vessel was recovered or a hazard disappeared. The outcome above comes from the cited follow-up reports.
Original sources
Account checked 6 Sept 2026. Follow-up is reviewed from these sources; this is not a live incident feed.
- 1.Tanker SOUNION Fire; Red Sea ↗NOAA IncidentNews · 23 Aug 2024
- 2.Statement by IMO Secretary-General on the MV Sounion ↗International Maritime Organization · 28 Aug 2024
- 3.MV Sounion update: tanker towed to a safe area ↗EUNAVFOR ASPIDES · European External Action Service · 16 Sept 2024
- 4.MV Sounion tanker safe following attack in the Red Sea ↗European External Action Service · 26 Sept 2024
- 5.Successful salvage of MT Sounion: operator's completion report ↗Ambrey · salvage operator · 10 Jan 2025
Related records in our archive
Original source text, preserved separately from this account.
NOAAORR-10842 NOAA response record
Tanker SOUNION Fire; Red Sea. Southern Red Sea. 1. On August 21, 2024, the tanker Sounion was reported to be on fire after a missile attack in Red Sea. The crew have abandoned the ship. The tanker is reported to be carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil. This hotline is being opened to gather information and understand the potential risks and outcomes should the vessel experience a major oil spill. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: BASRAH MEDIUM CRUDE. 3. POSITION 14.276N 042.308E. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10842: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10842Open record and warning history →
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