Greece Sends Salvage Ship To Red Sea After Attacks On Greek-Operated Vessels
Ministry of Shipping Insular PolicyX Greece is sending the salvage vessel Giant to the Red Sea to help with maritime emergencies following the recent attacks by Houthi rebels on Greek-operated shipping vessels. This decision was announced by Shipping and Insular Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias during his visit to the port of Piraeus, where the Giant is currently docked.
This deployment comes in the wake of two Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated ships, the Magic Seas and the Eternity C, being struck and sinking off the coast of Yemen earlier this month. These assaults were carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Fortunately, all crew members aboard the Magic Seas were rescued by a passing ship.
In the case of the Eternity C, ten crew members were saved through a private rescue operation, while five are feared dead and another ten are believed to be held captive by the Houthis, according to maritime security sources. Notably, the European Union's Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, had no vessels in the area when these attacks occurred.
The salvage vessel Giant is being sent by the Hellenic Association of Tugboat Owners, Salvage Vessels, and Anti-Pollution Vessels, in coordination with the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy. The mission is to protect and assist Greek-owned ships and seafarers operating in the Red Sea.
Minister Kikilias stated that the ministry is committed to fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance safety, protect human lives, and combat marine pollution. He emphasized that such initiatives are central to the ministry's mission.
Pavlos Xiradakis, the President of the Association, also spoke on the importance of this initiative, noting that they decided to deploy the Giant due to the escalating situation in the Red Sea. He pointed out that there are no other similar salvage vessels in the region and recalled a previous incident where a Greek rescue tug was dispatched from Piraeus to assist the ship Sounion because no other party was willing to enter the area due to safety concerns.
Xiradakis expressed gratitude to the minister for his ongoing support, highlighting that the Giant is one of the largest lifeboats in the world. It boasts four engines generating a total of 16,000 horsepower, two propellers, and a pulling capacity of 180 tons. The vessel is designed to operate in extreme weather conditions and is certified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
The Giant is crewed by 14 specialized Greek seafarers and is equipped with advanced firefighting capabilities at Level 2, allowing it to spray 7,200 cubic meters of water per hour from a distance of 200 meters. This makes it capable of extinguishing fires on large ships, including container vessels with high freeboards.
The vessel also features self-protection systems, a medical area, diving equipment, and accommodations for up to 40 people, including rescue teams and survivors. It is outfitted with modern lifesaving equipment and anti-pollution gear, enabling it to respond to oil spills, assist damaged vessels, lift wrecks, and conduct search and rescue operations.
Moreover, it has a designated space for helicopter winch operations and can store lifesaving equipment onboard. According to the Association president, the Greek crew is ready to operate even under hazardous conditions, while many other countries have advised their seafarers against transiting through the Red Sea. This mission aims to provide rapid support to seafarers in need and safeguard global maritime traffic in the region.
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