By The United Nations has successfully removed over 1 million barrels of oil from a deteriorating supertanker off the coast of Yemen’s Red Sea. This action has prevented a potential environmental disaster that had been looming. The rusting Safer tanker, which posed a risk of rupture or explosion, could have spilled an amount of oil four times greater than the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989.
Due to the Yemen conflict, maintenance on the Safer had been halted since 2015. The ship, serving as a storage vessel, had been anchored off Yemen for more than 30 years. The United Nations, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has managed to complete the removal of the oil, mitigating the immediate threat of an environmental catastrophe.
Acknowledging the significance of this achievement, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner expressed pride and gratitude towards the UN system, donors, and partners who worked diligently to avert a crisis in a country already strained by prolonged conflict. While this marks a major milestone, there is still ongoing work to ensure the complete resolution of the issue.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, emphasized the collective effort that prevented a potential catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea and highlighted the importance of the upcoming step, involving the installation of a CALM buoy for safely securing the replacement vessel.
The United Nations extends its appreciation to various entities, including the HSA Group, the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, the Trafigura Foundation, Octavia Energy/Calvalley Petroleum, and individuals who generously contributed to the UN crowdfunding campaign.
