EnvironmentMiddle EastOffshore
UN warns of environmental catastrophe posed by stranded FSO off Yemen
An abandoned FSO off Yemen with 1.1m barrels of oil onboard has been branded a potential environmental disaster in waiting by the United Nations.
The decaying, misleadingly named Safer FSO has been moored and left without maintenance near the war-torn Yemeni port of Ras Isa for more than four years, according to the UN.
has been moored and left without maintenance near the war-torn Yemeni port of Ras Isa for more than four years, according to the UN.Mark Lowcock, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council last week, that the vessel poses a grave danger either from a leak or worse still an explosion given the likely build up of inert gases in the ship.
“I leave it to you to imagine the effect of such a disaster on the environment, shipping lanes and the global economy,” he said in a speech to the Security Council.
This vessel (FSO) represent no danger whatsoever unless some crazy people puncture the shipside into a cargo tank, or fill the engine room with water!
The vessel is constructed so that the cargo tsnks are allowed to “breathe” or let out over-pressure. The cargo tanks are lacking oxygen and can therefore not explode in current condition!