The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced efforts are underway to secure oil from Safer, the unfortunately named floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit stranded in the Red Sea
Caught in the Yemen civil war, the unmaintained FSO – a converted supertanker – is in an advanced state of decay with more than 1.1M barrels of crude oil aboard.
Authorities have long recognised it as a serious hazard that could break apart or explode at any time causing catastrophic environmental damage.
The ship is set to be replaced by a UN-owned very large crude carrier (VLCC) purchased recently from Euronav.
2008-built Nautica was in drydock in Zhoushan, China for regular maintenance and modifications ahead of it taking on the oil from the FSO Safer and was secured by the UN last month. The vessel set sail 6 April and is expected to arrive early May.
Nautica’s departure is a significant development to remove the stranded oil from decaying Safer, which has been moored about 9 km off Yemen’s Ras Isa peninsula since 1988.
UNDP, which is implementing the operation as part of a UN-coordinated initiative, has contracted marine salvage specialist SMIT to ready Safer and safely carry out the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil.
“The departure of Nautica, and its onward journey to the Red Sea, is a significant next step in the complex operation to take on the oil from Safer. This moment marks the culmination of many months of preparation and co-ordination. It has involved many partners, among them our UN sister agencies, a global community of funders – from government and foundations to school classes – as well as international experts to ensure we succeed and prevent a humanitarian, environmental and economic disaster,” said UNDP administrator Achim Steiner.
“We are in a race against time and I urge leaders in government, chief executives of corporations and any individual in a position to contribute to step forward and support us in keeping this operation, that is fast reaching a critical stage, on track,” he added.
While the project has received significant international support, UNDP said the spiralling cost for VLCCs in a market affected by the war in Ukraine, means more funding is needed to complete the emergency phase of the plan.
UNDP said the total budget for this first phase is US$129M, leaving a gap of US$34M. As of 4 April, the UN had received firm commitments for US$95M.
“The sailing of the vessel that will take on Safer’s oil brings us closer to preventing a catastrophe,” said UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Yemen David Gressly, who has led on UN systemwide efforts on Safer since September 2021. “The UN family, including UNDP, UNEP, IMO, OCHA, WFP, member states, private companies and the public have all played a part in the UN-co-ordinated plan. We have the best available technical expertise and political support from all sides. Donors have been generous. We just need the final piece of funding this month to ensure success.”
The UN is appealing to member states and private entities, and the global public through a crowdfunding appeal to which thousands of individuals have already contributed.
Authorities estimate a major oil spill would devastate fishing communities on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, likely wiping out 200,000 livelihoods in Yemen, already the poorest nation in the Middle East.
Other hazards include the presence of dangerous toxins, polluted air, marine ecosystem damage to coral reefs and aquatic life. An oil spill would lead to the closure of the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef – which are essential to bring food, fuel and life-saving supplies into Yemen, where millions are at risk of starvation, while the closure of desalination plants would cut off water for the population.
And there are worries that oil could reach the African coast and affect other nations.
The UN estimates a clean-up would cost US$20Bn and bring disruption to shipping’s trade route through the Bab al-Mandab strait to the Suez Canal could cost billions more in global trade losses every day.
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