YEMEN

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Houthi administration is siphoning off crude oil from the Yemen

Evidence has emerged that the Houthi administration is siphoning off crude oil from the 'Yemen', which is maintained by the United Nations off Ras Isa. The oil that the Houthis have purloined, came originally from Yemen’s Marib oilfield, and had been stored in the floating oil storage facility 'FSO Safer' (IMO: 7376472), moored off Ras Isa, which into disuse when the Houthis captured the coastal area around Ras Isa and Hodeidah in 2015, and the Safer Exploration and Production Operations Company (SEPOC) stopped pumping their Marib crude, as they could no longer sell it. The 'FSO Safer' was left holding 1.14 million barrels of oil, today worth nearly $80 million. Holding the oil but unable to sell it, the Houthis also prevented maintenance, and the cargo became progressively more volatile as the condition of the ship deteriorated, threatening an explosion and an environmental catastrophe. In 2022, the Houthis finally agreed to a deal with the UN, whereby the oil was transferred to the 'Yemen', that was acquired for the specific purpose. There was no further agreement to proceed either with the removal and salvage of the 'FSO Safer' or with the disposal of the crude oil now aboard the 'Yemen', whose ownership was disputed between by the Houthis and SEPOC. Thus for the last two years, the 'FSO Safer' has remained in position, with the 'Yemen' moored nearby and still fully loaded. In the meantime, the ownership of the 'Yemen 'has been transferred gratis to SEPOC, although the UN has also continued to pay directly for the maintenance crew on board the ship. On June 8, the tanker 'Seastar 1' (IMO 9163283) was seen alongside the 'Yemen', transferring oil, and offloaded it in Ras Isa. Prior to this, the 'Yemen' had also carried out ship-to-ship transfers of Russian petroleum products. The UN has lodged a protest over the oil transfers, which must have been made with the aid of the Yemen’s UN-sponsored but presumably press-ganged crew. It would also be feasible for crude oil to be barged the short distance into Ras Isa using lighters. Given that the 'Yemen' now has a UN-paid crew, and the vessel itself is owned by the Yemeni government’s SEPOC, it may be difficult to curb future siphoning of crude that is much needed by the Houthis.

Two tankers still stuck in firing line

The two tankers 'Safer' and 'Yemen', containing oil and toxic waste, have been stuck in the Red Sea in the firing line between Western naval forces and Yemen's Houthi militants despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to empty and move the ships to avoid a spill. The vessels are near the port of Ras Issa, from where Iran-aligned Houthis launch missiles on ships passing through the Red Sea and where US missiles land as they target the Houthis. A million barrels of oil have been transferred from the decaying FSO 'Safer' onto the 'Yemen' in an operation that cost $121 million. The UN had hoped to move the FSO 'Safer' for disposal elsewhere and sell the oil aboard the 'Yemen'. Besides toxic sludge and wash water used to scrub oil out of the tanker, some 70,000 metric tons of residue were still onboard the FSO 'Safer'. Neither of the ships has moved since August 2023, as the Houthis and their foes in Yemen’s internationally-recognised government could not agree who should receive the money for the oil, and there was no an agreement to tow the ship away either. The UN Development Programme was in discussion with all relevant parties in Yemen about the handover of the vessel. The UNDP has not had any indication from the de facto authorities in Yemen of threats to deliberately damage the vessel. The Houthis have refused to release either of the ships, using them to increase their bargaining power. Belgium's Euronav has maintained a crew onboard the 'Yemen' since August under its contract with the UN. Once the handover process is complete, the crew will leave. Euronav scontinued to assist the UNDP to safely handover the 'Yemen', without specifying who might ultimately receive the ship.

Lighter tanker at holding anchorage after oil transfer from Safer

As of Aug 31, 2023, the 'Yemen' was at a holding anchorage off Hodeidah pending the installation of a specialised buoy after the oil transfer from the FSO '*Safer'. $22 million was still required to complete the whole project, taking the total cost to more than $140 million. The Boskalis multipurpose support vessel 'Ndeavor' has left for Djibouti, where the salvage crew will disembark, before the vessel returns to Rotterdam. The departure from Yemen marked the end of a complex salvage operation that began in late May. With the successful oil transfer, a huge environmental disaster with serious humanitarian, environmental, and economic consequences was averted. The FSO 'Safer' was now due to be towed away for scrapping.