Britain calls on Houthis to allow UN access to Yemen’s time bomb oil tanker

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies taken June 17, 2020, shows the FSO Safer tanker moored off Ras Issa port, in Yemen. (Maxar Technologies/AP)

• FSO Safer has been moored 7 km off the coast of Yemen since 1988
• UK said the tanker is an environmental disaster waiting to happen

LONDON: The UK urged the Houthi militia to allow UN inspectors access to a derelict tanker and remove the oil it contains on Thursday.

FSO Safer has been moored 7 km off the coast of Yemen since 1988 and fell into the hands of the Houthis in March 2015.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the 1.14 million barrels of oil onboard could leak into the Red Sea “if nothing is done” and that the tanker is an “environmental disaster waiting to happen.”

The FSO Safer is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. If nothing is done, 1.14 million barrels of oil could leak into the Red Sea. Houthi Authorities must allow UN inspectors to access the ship and remove the oil. pic.twitter.com/1TKBRk8V7t

— Foreign Office (@foreignoffice) July 9, 2020

The Houthis have actively prevented international engineers from boarding FSO Safer to carry out essential repairs.

There are fears that the oil it contains will start to seep out as the vessel’s condition deteriorates.