Greece has taken a leading role in the effort to tow the oil tanker Sounion, which is drifting unruly in the Red Sea after it was hit last week by Houthi rebelswith the consequence that there is concern for a major ecological disaster in the event of a leak of its cargo, as reported by the Bloomberg agency.

The plan is the result of close coordination between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, European partners and key regional players, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the same sources said. Greece, according to the publication, also used communication channels with Iran, which supports the Houthi fighters.

According to the rescue plan, the oil from the “Sounion” it will be transferred to another ship, while the tanker will be towed to a safe port, likely in Djibouti, said sources familiar with the plans who asked not to be named as the discussions are private.

The Houthis had initially threatened any attempt to tow the ship, but eventually agreed to allow the Sounion to be removed. The tanker will be accompanied during the operation by Greek, French and Italian ships participating in the European Union’s “SHIELDS” naval operation, while the Saudis are likely to oversee the transfer of the oil, the same sources added.

The agency quotes today’s statement from the Greek foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis from Brusselswho said he had spoken with the Saudi foreign minister to ensure “this matter is dealt with as securely as possible.”

The Bloomberg notes that the Greek-flagged “Sounion” was carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil from Iraq when it was hit by Yemen’s Houthi fighters. The crew was rescued, but parts of the ship were engulfed in flames, and it is not yet clear if there is an oil leak. A representative of the American Pentagon had stated yesterday, Tuesday, that the ship seems to have a leak, raising the possibility of an environmental disaster, however representatives of the “SHIELDS” operation had denied this.

The news agency points out that in the event of a large oil spill, it would have serious consequences for the coasts of Yemen, as well as neighboring countries. In the worst-case scenario of the Sounion’s entire cargo spilling, it would be the fifth largest oil spill on record, surpassing incidents such as the 2018 Sanchi spill near China, the report said.