Greece will send the salvage vessel Giant to the Red Sea to assist in maritime emergencies, following the recent Houthi attacks on two Greek-operated cargo ships. The decision was announced by Shipping and Insular Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias during his visit to the port of Piraeus, where the vessel is currently docked.

This comes after two Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C, were struck and sank off the coast of Yemen this month. The attacks were carried out by Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

All crew members of Magic Seas were rescued by a passing ship. In the case of Eternity C, ten crew members were saved in a privately-led rescue mission, five are feared dead, and another ten are believed to be held by the Houthis, according to maritime security sources. The European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, had no ships in the area during the time of the attacks.

The salvage vessel Giant is being deployed by the Hellenic Association of Tugboat Owners, Salvage Vessels, Anti-Pollution Vessels Supporting Offshore Installations, in cooperation with the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy. The goal is to support, protect, and assist Greek-owned ships and seafarers operating in the Red Sea.

Minister Kikilias stated that the ministry supports the collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance safety, protect human life, and fight marine pollution. He emphasised that such efforts are at the heart of the ministry’s mission.

The President of the Association, Pavlos Xiradakis, also addressed the importance of this mission. He said that the Association and its members decided to send the Giant due to the ongoing and worsening situation in the Red Sea.

He pointed out that there is no other similar salvage vessel in the region. He also recalled a previous case, where a Greek rescue tug left Piraeus to save the ship Sounion because no other party was willing to enter the area due to security risks.

Xiradakis thanked the minister for his continuous support and highlighted that the Giant is one of the largest lifeboats in the world. It is powered by four engines producing a combined 16,000 horsepower, has two propellers, and a pulling force of 180 tons. The vessel can sail in extreme weather conditions and is certified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

The Giant is crewed by 14 specialised Greek seafarers. It has advanced firefighting capabilities (Level 2), which allow it to spray 7,200 cubic meters of water per hour at a distance of 200 meters. This makes it capable of extinguishing fires on large ships like container vessels with high freeboards. The vessel includes self-protection systems, a hospital area, diver equipment, and accommodation for 40 people, including rescue teams and survivors.

The ship is also equipped with modern lifesaving tools and anti-pollution gear. It can assist in oil spill response, power damaged vessels, lift wrecks, and carry out search and rescue operations. Additionally, it has a space for helicopter winch operations and can store lifesaving equipment on board.

The Greek crew, according to the Association president, are prepared to operate even under dangerous conditions, while many other countries have advised their seafarers not to transit through the Red Sea. This mission aims to offer immediate support to seafarers in need and protect global maritime traffic in the area.

Reference: Ministry of Shipping & Insular Policy

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