The United Nations has concluded plans to remove more than a million barrels of oil from a decaying tanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast that threatens a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) who signed the agreement with Euronav on Thursday, secured the purchase of a Very Large Crude Carrier or ‘VLCC’ – as part of the UN-coordinated operation.
Stating further that the tanker Safer has not been maintained since 2015 because of the conflict in Yemen. “It has decayed to the point where there is an imminent risk it could explode or break apart, which would have disastrous effects on the region.
“A major spill would devastate fishing communities on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, likely wiping out 200,000 livelihoods instantly. Communities would be exposed to life-threatening toxins. Highly polluted air would affect millions.
“It would also result in the closure of the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef – which are essential to bring food, fuel and life-saving supplies into Yemen, where 17 million people need food assistance.
“Desalination plants would close, cutting off a water source for millions of people. Oil from the Safer could reach the African coast and affect any country on the Red Sea.
“The environmental impact on coral reefs life-supporting mangroves and other marine life would be severe. Fish stocks would take 25 years to recover”, the Agency said.
UNDP said further that the replacement vessel is now in drydock for modifications and regular maintenance before sailing to the FSO Safer, moored about nine kilometers off Yemen’s Ras Isa peninsula. It is expected to arrive in early May for the operation.
Adding that the cost of cleanup alone is estimated at $20 billion. “Disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait to the Suez Canal could cost billions more in global trade losses every day, as happened after Ever Given grounded in the Canal in 2021.
According to the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner who said, “The purchase of this suitable vessel by UNDP marks the beginning of the operational phase of the UN-coordinated plan to safely remove the oil from the Safer and avoid the risk of an environmental and humanitarian disaster on a massive scale.
“We must accept that this is a very challenging and complex operation. UNDP is working around the clock with experts from UN sister agencies including IMO, WFP and UNEP among others.
“As well as international consultancies on maritime law, insurance and environmental impact to ensure that we are deploying the best possible expertise to successfully complete this operation”, Steiner said.
The Agency revealed that the project to remove the oil received significant international support, spiraling costs mostly related to the war in Ukraine that triggered a significant price increase in the market for suitable vessels to undertake the operation mean more money is still needed to complete the emergency phase of the plan.
“As of 7 March, the UN has raised $95 million, of which $75 million has been received. The total budget for the emergency phase of the project is $129 million”, it said.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Sana’a, David Gressly who led on UN system-wide efforts on the Safer since September 2021, said, “UNDP’s purchase of the vessel is indeed a major step, made possible by the generosity of donors, the private sector and global citizens.
“The parties to the conflict continue to endorse the plan. Now we are into the operational phase and hopeful the oil will be removed from the Safer within the next three to four months. But we still urgently need funding to implement the plan and prevent disaster.”
To fill the budget gap, the UN has re-launched a crowdfunding appeal which saw thousands of individuals around the world contribute to the FSO Safer project in 2021.
Meanwhile, United States has welcomed the United Nations’ announcement that it has signed an agreement to procure a vessel to receive the 1.1 million barrels of oil from the decaying Safer oil tanker.
According to statement from the office of the State Department Spokesman on Thursday, said this is a critical step in the implementation of the UN’s emergency plan to avert regional environmental catastrophe, economic disruption in the Red Sea with global ramifications, and the exacerbation of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
While maintained the momentum to move the emergency operation to conclusion. “The UN urgently needs $34 million more to transfer the oil from the Safer to the newly procured vessel, adding that US contributed $10 million toward this effort, renew its work to galvanize further support to prevent this looming disaster.
United States thanked donors that have already contributed generously. “The international community – including the private sector – must come together to address this imminent threat.
“Yemenis are already suffering from more than eight years of war; they cannot endure the loss of livelihoods in the fishery industry, disruption of access to food, water for millions, and health complications from pollution that would result from a massive Safer oil spill.
“It is critical that we close this funding gap now so that the UN can complete the emergency operation as quickly as possible.
The US urged public and private donors to come forward and deliver the critical funding needed to prevent destruction of livelihoods, the impediments to global transportation in vital shipping lane, environmental devastation involving critical marine ecosystems in the Red Sea.