FSO Safer tank ship; Yemen

Yemen | 2020-Jul-20

Initial Notification: The FSO Safer is a 396 meter (1,300’) ULCC tank ship falling into disrepair off the coast of Yemen with roughly 1.3 million bbls of Marib Light crude oil on board. The vessel and cargo is owned by the Yemeni Government's Safer Oil Company, is located roughly 4.8 NM off the Ras Isa shoreline (30 NM NW of the port of Al Hudaydah), but has had no maintenance since 2015 due to conflict in the region. The US Department of State is working with the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and has requested technical assistance from the National Response Team to better understand the potential spill risks, potential mitigation measures, and threats to the local environment and coastal communities. This Hotline is being opened to archive relevant information obtained via the NRT and to house NOAA products as needed.