UN: Transfer of Oil From FSO Safer Completed

As previously reported, a deteriorating floating storage and offloading unit, FSO Safer, moored off the coast of Yemen, with an estimated 1.14 million barrels of light crude oil onboard represented a major environmental and humanitarian threat should an oil spill occur. Preparatory works aboard the FSO Safer for the transfer of the oil to another vessel began 30 May 2023 (via the FSO Ndeavor). The ship-to-ship oil transfer to the MOST Yemen (formerly Nautica) was conducted 25 July 2023 – 11 August 2023, resulting in the removal of 1.1 million barrels from the FSO Safer. Remaining efforts include the need to remove and scrap the FSO Safer, as well as “the delivery of a specialized buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely and securely tethered” (UNSG Statement). For more information see there press releases by the UN, UNSG, Boskalis and video.